KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed Customs officials to consider the request of petitioner for release of consignment of pop corn on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Bismillah Store against seizing the consignment due to disputed valuation.
While the hearing of petition, a two-member bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi also issued notices to Customs department and deputy attorney general directing them to file their respective para wise comments on next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is engaged in the lawful business of import of pop-corn and fulfills all the legal requirement according with law, it imported a consignment of pop corn and filed goods declaration $ O.4200 per kilogram; however, officials of the Director General of Valuation enhanced the valuation as $ 2.70 per kg without lawful authority.
He further argued that due the disputed valuation, consignment is not being cleared by the customs officials.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Chief Collector of Customs Collectorate, Collector of Customs Collectorate South, Collector of Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, he pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
Petitioner also pleaded the court to direct them to release its consignment immediately and restrain them form taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order of this petition.
After the hearing, court issued pre-admission notices to the customs department and directed customs officials to consider request of petitioner for release of consignment accordance with law.
