KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to customs officials and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s YSK Pharma Private Limited seeking release order for consignment of citric acid monohydrate 8-40Mesh and citric acid monohydrate 8-40Mesh detained by customs officials due to allegedly non-payment of duty and taxes.
On August 7, 2019, while the hearing of petition, a two-member bench also directing customs officials to make sure filing their comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that the petitioner imported a consignment of citric acid monohydrate 8-40Mesh and citric acid monohydrate 8-40Mesh and filed goods declaration which was examined and assessed by the competent authority, after payment of all relevant duty and taxes and assessed by the assessing authority the goods declaration was out of charge by the customs, the trader received electronic order assign to gate out staff for delivery and when importer contacted to the yard staff for delivery of his goods they informed that customs out the consignment on hold by electronically.
He further informed the court that collector verbally affirmed that, duties and taxes are un-furnished of last five consignments, which was previously cleared and released after examination/ assessment by the customs staff, accordingly, neither any notice nor show cause notice issued by the clearance collecotrate.
He argued that petitioner is seriously aggrieved and highly prejudiced by the action of respondents, whereby the respondents are not releasing goods even-though, payment of duty and taxes are paid.
Citing chairman Federal Board of Revenue, the collector of Customs Appraisement East and others as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to direct them to release its consignment immediately and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
He further pleaded the court to direct the respondents to refund demurrage charges, detention charges, container rents etc and any other charges which have been incurred by the petitioner due to their failure to release the consignments in a timely manner.
