KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought comments from tax authorities on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Sun Steel Industries, seeking release order of its consignment of raw material, which was seized by officials of Customs Appraisement-East.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhter and Justice Anwar Hussain was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, the counsel for the department and deputy attorney general sought some time to ensure the proper comments; therefore, the court adjourned the hearing for September 1, 2016 and directed the respondents to submit their respective comments on the next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that the raw material of the petitioner has been lying within port area under the control and custody of customs officials and the additional collector since November 12, 2015, resulting heavy financial losses to the petitioner.
According to the petitioner, it filed goods declaration and approached the respondents for allowing trans-shipment of the said goods for Sambrial Export Processing Zone (EPZ), because respondents have blocked the filing and processing of such goods declaration for trans-shipment in their computer system with malafide intents.
Citing Revenue Division secretary, Customs Appraisement-South chief collector, Appraisement-East collector and additional collector as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the SHC may declare that act of the respondents of omission or commission on part of the respondents for not allowing the trans-shipment of the goods ,imported under EPZ scheme vide rule 226 of the customs rules -2001, as unlawful. The court may also direct the respondents to allow the trans-shipment of the importer’s raw material to Sambrial EPZ.
