KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the tax authorities to ensure submission of para-wise comments on December 06, 2016 on a petition filed by M/s Khalid Agencies (Pvt) Ltd seeking revalidation of its private bonded warehouse, which was not renewed since 2004.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Irfan Sadat Khan and Justice Muhammad Humayun Khan was hearing the petition. During the hearing, counsel for the Customs Preventive collector sought further time to file para-wise comments; therefore, the court granted time and adjourned hearing for December 06, 2016.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is a license holder of a private bonded warehouse, which license was granted by the Customs Preventive collector.
According the petitioner, without disclosing any reason or issuing show cause notice, the license of the bonded warehouse was not renewed since July 2004 despite the fact that the petitioner submitted application for renewal of license on July 03, 2004.
The counsel further 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 revalidated by the respondents arbitrary.
Citing Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman and Customs Preventive collector as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the court may direct the respondents to renew the warehouse licence No PWL 1/84 (diplomatic) of the petitioner, besides allowing to do business till the petitioner is proved guilty or otherwise.
