KARACHI: Making a distinction and securing the interest of the exchequer as well as importer, a divisional bench of High Court of Sindh on Friday allowed the release of Varnish for paper having a shelf life of six months.
Earlier, the counsel for petitioner submitted that they have imported varnish and goods are lying at the port since October 2015. The counsel maintained that the shelf life of the consignment is due to expire in March why you have imported item with such a short shelf life, asked the bench. It again asked that why the importer has not availed the benefit of section 81 of the Customs Act 1969, which allows provisional release of the consignment pending a final decision. The court also asked that whether the imported item fall within the negative list.
The bench after all queries and hearing Kashif Nazeer advocate, counsel for Customs department who told the court that petitioner has to pay the custom duty, taxes, fine, and penalty.
The bench ordered the petitioner to pay the custom duty and taxes with the department while deposit the penalty and fine with the Nazir of the court after which consignment was ordered to be released immediately.