KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the tax authorities and deputy attorney general of Pakistan directing them to file their respective para-wise comments on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Seagate Logistics Pakistan Private Limited seeking restoration order of its business licence NTN/user ID Password blocked by the tax department due to alleged involvement in tax evasion.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, was hearing the petition.
Earlier, counsel for petitioner stated that there was no complaint, no show cause notice neither any impugned order nor even any inquiry or investigation against the petitioner for alleged violation of any previsions of the Customs and Sales Tax Rules Act-1990 as well as Income Tax Ordinance served on the petitioner.
According to the petitioner, without showing any reason, Additional Collector of Customs Licensing Model Customs Collectorate West blocked petitioner’s business licence NTN/user ID Password despite petitioner paid penalties’ amount of Rs800000 which was raised by tax authorities and approached the officials concerned for restoration of its NTN, however officials denied his request for de/blocking its NTN/ user ID.
Citing to Secretary Revenue Division, Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate Appraisement West and Additional Collector of Customs Licensing Model Customs Collectorate West as respondents, counsel pleaded with the court to kindly declare that act of the respondents illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded with the SHC to kindly direct the tax authorities to release/re-store/de-block the user ID password/ NTN number as well as customs agent’s licence of the petitioner forthwith and restrain them from taking any coercive measures against the petitioner.