KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Irfan Saddat Khan and Justice Arshad Hussain on July 04, last working day of the week sought comments from Federal Secretary, Law, Justice and para wise Parliamentary Affairs by July 19 in a petition seeking immediate appointment of Chairman to Special Customs Appellate Tribunals.
Earlier Ghulamullah and Zia-ul-Hasan Advocates appearing for petitioners submitted that while this petition remained pending, the number of appeals has crossed a figure of 1000 and increasing with each day passing. The importers ans exporters both are suffering due to inordinate delay in appointment of chairman of the Special Customs Appellate Tribubal, they submitted.
The petition was filed by Customs and Sales Tax Practitioners Assocation’s President Saleem Mangrio and Joint Secretary Ghulamullah advocate. The petitioners maintains that post of the chairman is vacant since four months which has led to chaos at the Appellate Tribunals which are dysfunctional .
No provision of the Customs Act 1969 restrains the tribunals from exercising powers and hearing the appeals pending as well as fresh, Ghulamullah Advocate, one of the petitioners told the court.
He said that members of the petitioner association as well at public at large are suffering from the delayed appointment.
The petitioner prays to the court to direct the respondent Law Secretary to fill the post.