KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the tax authorities to file para wise comments on the next hearing on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Khalid Agencies (Private) Limited seeking re-validation of its private bonded warehouse which was not renewed/re-validated since 2004.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Saeeduddin Nasir was hearing the petition. During the hearing, counsel for the Customs Department sought some time to submit para wise comments, therefore, the court adjourned the hearing for November 11, 2016.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is a license holder of a private bonded warehouse which license was granted by the Collector of Custom Preventive.
According the petitioner, without disclosing any reason or issuing show cause notice the license of the bonded warehouse was not renewed/re-validated since July 2004 despite the fact that the petitioner submitted application for renewed/re-validation of license on July 03, 2004.
Counsel argued that officials of the custom authorities registered a FIR dated September 04, 2004 regarding the alleged tax fraud case which is under progress till date. Grievance of the petitioner is that the diplomatic bonded warehouse ceased to function after expiry of the licence on June 30, 2004 which has not been renewed/re-validated by the respondents arbitrary.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and the Collector of Customs Preventive as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may direct the respondents to the warehouse license no PWL 1/84 (diplomatic) of the petitioner by renewed/ revalidated till the petitioner be allowed to do the business till the petitioner is proved guilty or otherwise.
