KARACHI: A bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Monday adjourned hearing of a suit filed by Umer Impex against Collector Customs, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim (PMBQ) and Additional Collector (Adjudication-II), MCC, and PMBQ until Jan 21.

Earlier the bench heard the arguments by Muhammad Shakeel, counsel for the plaintiff who maintained that despite fulfillment of all formalities Custom officials are not releasing the consignment due to which heavy loss is being incurred by the plaintiff on daily basis.

Masood Wahab advocate appearing for the Pakistan Custom argued that suit is barred under section 217 of the Customs Act 1969 and the Order in Original passed against the plaintiff cannot be questioned in a suit for declaration. She maintained that plaintiff has the remedy before the Appellate Tribunal and as an appeal has been filed, the suit became in fructuous.

The bench however due to paucity of time adjourned further hearing until Jan 21.The petitioner imported used machinery and scrap containing used circuit breakers above 10 Ampere and consignment weighed 25840 kilogram. According to Custom, authorities the item imported are banned under Import Policy 2013 and thus were confiscated. The custom valued the offended goods worth rupees 4598874.