KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) restrained customs officials from taking any coercive action against importer M/s International Industries Limited who approached court against show cause notice issued by Collectorate of Customs PMBQ for recovery of duties and taxes payable on zinc wastages produced by it during the manufacturing process.
On 19 October 2020, a two-member bench heard the matter. During the hearing, Husain Ali Almani advocate appeared on behalf of the petitioner and argued that MCC PMBQ has issued show cause notice which was alleged that petitioner is liable to pay an amount of Rs12,482,037 on account of duties and taxes payable on zinc wastages produced by it during manufacturing process in the years 2012 to 2015.
He further argued that respondent issued two other show cause notices and demanded amount of Rs82,890,350 and Rs305, 848,138 respectively, however, on August 31, 2020 Collector of Customs Adjudication-II order-in-origin in three manual cases, whereby, it held that petitioner is liable to pay the aforesaid amount along-with a total penalty of Rs. 1,500,000 in respect of each show cause notice.
He stated that on Oct 07, 2020 petitioner received a demand notice from customs officials and directed the petitioner to pay the demand within a period of 7 days, however, petitioner immediately filed three separate appeals before appellate forum along with stay applications which are pending for order.
Citing chairman FBR, Collector of Customs Adjudication-II, MCC of Export PMBQ, Additional Collector of Customs-I, Customs Appellate Tribunal as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in these appeals.
After the hearing, the court issued notices to the respondents and as well as assistant/ deputy registrar of customs appellate tribunal for the next date of hearing.