KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed tax department and deputy attorney general of Pakistan on a petition filed by M/s Shazak Multinational and M/s PIVA International challenging impugned Valuation Ruling No 863/2016 which enhanced the values of toilet soaps.
While hearing of the petition, a two-member bench headed by Justice Irfan Sadat Khan also direct them to file their respective comments on the next date of hearing and adjourned the hearing for November 30, 2016.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioners stated that they are engaged in the lawful business of import of toilet soaps from various sources around the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia and the UAE.
The petitioners informed the court that they are aggrieved and seriously prejudiced by the illegal and mala fide action of the respondents, whereby the respondent have arbitrary fixed the custom value of toilet soaps vide Valuation Ruling No 863/2016 dated June 02, 2016 in the manner which is contrary to the law and regulations.
The counsel further argued that demand of the fixation value according to the said impugned valuation ruling is unlawful.
Citing Federal Board of Revenue chairman, collector of Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-West, collector of Appraisement-East and director of Customs Valuation as respondents, the petitioners pleaded the court may declare act of the respondents as illegal, unlawful and mala fide.
The importers also pleaded the court may set aside impugned valuation ruling and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioners.
