KARACHI: The Sindh High Court ( SHC) has issued notices to the tax authorities and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Umar and Co, seeking release of its consignment of zincalume steel sheets in coil of prime quality thickness 0.35-0.95 and 670mm imported from New Zealand.
During the hearing of petition, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar directed the Tax Department to file their respective para-wise comments for January 25, 2017.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that the petitioner imported a consignment through import of Galvalume steel coils from New Zealand as per requirement from a local manufacturer and filed goods declaration. The consignment comprised 33 containers.
According to the petitioner, its consignment was selected for examination and after the examination, officials alleged that the consignment of secondary galvanized steel coils under the garb of “primary” and issued a show cause notice to the petitioner. Therefore, being aggrieved, it approached the appellate tribunal and filed an appeal against impugned show cause notice which is still pending.
The counsel further argued that during the pendency of said appeal, officials of the customs authorities threatened the company of coercive action.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division and Collector of Customs Appraisement East as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary, he also pleaded the SHC to set aside impugned show cause notice and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner.
