KARACHI: M/s Samad Enterprises filed a constitutional petition before the Sindh High Court (SHC) against putting on hold its consignment comprising 13380kg polyester knitted pile fabric of assorted colors imported from China.
On 25 September 2019, counsel for the petitioner stated that in normal course of business, petitioner imported a consignment of 13380 kgs polyester knitted pile fabric of assorted colors from China and on arrival of goods at Karachi Port for clearance thereof through customs computerized system of Appraisement East on self-clearance basis, the consignment was examined, whereby description, quantity, weight of the goods was found reported as per declaration.
He submitted that lab test report confirmed the declared description and goods declaration was accordingly assessed by the concerned processing section of clearance collectorate on the assessable value under section no 6 of valuation ruling no 1225/ 2017 and after payment of assessed duty and taxes, the goods declaration was out of charges/assigned to gate out by the staff of customs department.
Counsel argued that after the completion of goods declaration and payment of assessed duty and taxes, the goods declaration was assigned to gate out, and petitioner approached customs department to clearance, however, to the utter dismay of the petitioner, it was informed by the respondents that the consignment was put on hold, after that he approached to customs officials to know the reasons for illegally putting on hold the duty paid consignment and he was informed that the consignment has been put on hold due to alleged mis-declaration.
Citing chairman FBR, Director Intelligence & Investigation Customs, collector of Customs Appraisement West, Additional Collector of Customs Group IV, M/s KICT as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that act of the respondents is illegal, malafide and arbitrary.
He further pleaded the court may direct them to remove hold on the petitioner’s duty paid consignment and release it immediately.