KARACHI: M/s Khafid Garments approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) and filed petition against auctioning of its imported consignment during lockdown.
On 27 2020, counsel for the petitioner submitted in his constitutional petition that it has been reported by Customs Appraisement West, Karachi that during the scrutiny of import GD, it was observed that the petitioner filed BL No YMLUS-236025778, he further submitted that after activities allowed by the federal government, the petitioner approached at the office of customs department and the petitioner became shocked by the hands of officials that his consignments are being auctioned due to lying at port and per day demurrage has been imposed upon the petitioner.
He further submitted that petitioner informed the customs officials that during lock down no demurrage be imposed upon the importers because all the business activities are completely banned so requested to the officials for releasing his consignments without any excuses.
Petitioner said that officials of customs department continuously black mailing to the petitioner and his staff for demanding illegal bribe for releasing the consignments in case of failure their goods be auctioned by the respondents.
Citing secretary revenue division, the Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement West, the Collector of Customs Appraisement West and D.C Auction as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that without issuing notice to the petitioner, the process of auction is illegal and unlawful.
He further pleaded the court to restrain them from auction of consignments and immediately release goods of the petitioner.