KARACHI: The authorities of Pakistan Customs were directed by a divisional bench of High Court of Sindh comprising to avail legal remedies available to them within 10 days against an importer or implement the order passed earlier on Jan 08, 2016 by the court.
The orders came from a bench comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Anwar Hussain during hearing of a constitution petition filed by: Umer & Co, who imported Prime Quality Steel Sheets stuffed in 33 containers.
According to the petitioner they attached bill of landing, Mill Test Certificate of consignment but the custom authorities declared the consignment to be of “secondary Quality”.
The petitioner maintained that they filed a GD for “into bond” on 27-10-2015 requiring of the customs to shift the consignment to bonded ware house but the same was delayed as a result of which petitioner has to pay a penalty of rupees 4,000,000. The determination of the quality was arbitrary and illegal, violates Public Notice 1/2002, the petitioner maintains. It alleged that detention of the goods is illegal. Naveen Merchant advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted that she has fulfilled all the legal formalities and matter should have been referred to “Steel Committee comprising officers of the Pakistan Customs” but this was also not being done. She pressed for an early decision as according to her, consignment landed at port 4 months back.
Upon query by the court Kashif Nazeer advocate representing Pakistan Customs said that department is processing the case. The court later disposing of the case ordered the respondents to avail legal remedies available to the department in 10 days time or implement orders passed on 8-1-2016 regarding release of the consignment.