KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to customs department and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Bilal Brother Industries seeking release order of imported consignments of polyester filament yarn seized by customs officials and assessing the duty and taxes on the basis of the Valuation Ruling No 1362/2019.
On August 29, 2019, while the hearing, court also directed them to file their respective para wise comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner argued in his petition that petitioner is sole proprietor firm and importer of industrial input goods in the style and name of M/s Bilal Brother Industries.
He further argued that petitioner has imported consignments comprising of polyester filament yarn and submitted goods declarations according with law, however, despite submitting goods declarations, officials of the customs authority stopped his consignments illegally.
He stated that petitioner is seriously aggrieved and highly prejudiced by the actions of the respondents, whereby, the customs officials have denied to accept the declared transactional value of the imported consignments of polyester filament yarn and are assessing the duty and taxes on the basis of the valuation ruling no 1362/2019, despite the fact that the prices determined therein much higher and without following the sequential methods laid down under Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1969.
Citing chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Appraisement East, West and DG Valuation as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court direct the respondents to allow provisional release in the present and future consignments shipped or to be shipped and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.