KARACHI: The hearing of more than half a dozen Special Customs Reference Applications (SCRA’s) and constitution petitions was adjourned until March 16 here on Monday by a divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC).
The bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Sadiq Hussain Bhtatti heard the SCRAs filed by Director of Customs Valuation and counter cases filed by different importers and Pakistan Motorcycle Spare Parts Importers Association.
According to details, petitioner/importers imported different consignments of shock absorbers, which were to be assessed under Valuation Ruling 394 of 2011 dated 27-10-2011 at a rate of US $ 1.71 per kilogram. While the consignments were landing in, some private parties made a complaint that VR is on lower side at which the Valuation department issued a new Valuation Ruling 458 of 2012 dated 24-5-2012 fixing the custom duty at a rate of US $ 3 per kilogram. The petitioners challenged the same and later Special Customs Tribunal set aside the disputed valuation ruling as well as order in review passed by custom heirarchy.
The petitioners in the mean while got their consignments released by making payment of differential amounts through post dated cheques and other securities and they now demand that the same may be returned to them after decision by the tribunal in their favor against which the Custom has also filed a SCRA.
Today after a brief hearing, the bench put of further proceedings until March 16 when all connected petitions and SCRA’s will be heard and decided.