KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the tax authorities to submit the para-wise comments on a constitutional petition filed by M/s F A Corporation seeking restoration of its NTN suspended/blocked by Assistant/Additional Commissioner Inland Revenue Unit-IV, Zone-III.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Irfan Sadat Khan and Justice Arshad Hussain Khan, heard the petition.
During the hearing, counsel for customs authorities sought time to file para-wise comments therefore court adjourned the hearing for June 22, 2017.
During the hearing, counsel for the Customs Department informed the court in reply that petitioner is involved in heinous crime of using the pay-orders of other importers for clearance with the connivance of the bank officials. The matter is pending before the customs court therefore in such a situation where alternate remedy is available the subject petition is not maintainable so the same may kindly be dismissed.
Earlier, counsel for petitioner stated that he carries lawful import business and was never involved in any tax evasion case, however officials of the customs authorities lodged an FIR against petitioner and others alleging that he is involved in use of pay-orders.
According to the petitioner, respondents without conducting the proper investigation blocked the NTN and violated the fundamental rights of the petitioner guaranteed by the constitution.
Citing to Secretary Revenue Division, the Collector of Customs, Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement-East, Customs House Karachi, Deputy Collector of Customs, Model Customs Collectorate (R&D) Appraisement-East and others as respondents, plaintiff pleaded the court to kindly direct them to restore the NTN.
