KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Abdul Malik Gaddi disposed of a constitution petition filed by Huffaz Seamless Pipes Limited here on Monday while directing the petitioner to cooperate with the Customs Intelligence and Investigations probing alleged suppression of Sales Tax.

The bench also expressed annoyance that when the petitioner has already sought and secured a relief in suit filed by it in the same matter why the instant petition was filed and a restraining order was secured in this too.

At this the counsel for petitioner prayed to the court to allow withdrawal of the petition.

Earlier Masooda Siraj advocate appearing for the Collector Customs, Director I&I, Pakistan Customs pointed out double relief secured by the petitioner/plaintiff. She also pointed out that while the consignment of the petitioner was lying at the customs bonded ware house, the consignment was removed without permission.

The I&I has powers to issue notices to the respondents under section 38 of the Sales Tax Act and 175 of the Income Tax  Ordinance for ascertaining the evasion of payables to the government revenue pool, she maintained. She also submitted that data from the Computers of the petitioner company has established short payment of Sales Tax and Income Tax.

The bench after detailed arguments from the sides allowed the request by petitioner’s counsel disposing off the same as withdrawn while directing them to cooperate in the investigations into tax evasion.