KARACHI: A division bench of High Court of Sindh allowing an application for interim relief filed by importers of toilet soaps ordered release of consignments on payment of duty and taxes on declared value.
The bench which was hearing a constitution petition filed by Fams Enterprises and 19 other importers of toiletries further ordered that “In respect of the differential amount of duty, taxes, etc computed on the basis of differences between the declared value and value as per Valuation Ruling 863/2016 each petitioner shall to the extent as relevant for its consignment (s) provide security to the satisfaction of the Nazir of the Court”
The bench earlier heard Advocate Ghulamullah Shaikh who maintained that petitioner aggrieved by the VR 836/2016 preferred a revision under section 25-D of the Customs Act 1969 but the same was dismissed and Director General Valuation enhanced the valuation over and above the VR cited above. He submitted that this act of the DG valuation is beyond jurisdiction. He sought an interim relief on ground that consignments imported by the petitioner from different parts of the world including UAE, Malaysia, Indonesia are being piled up.
The bench after hearing the counsel for Pakistan Customs and petitioners said that prima facie there is a substance to what has been stated by the counsel for petitioners and that therefore an interim arrangement is warranted.
The bench holding that this arrangement/interim order is without prejudice to the case of the parties on merit and without prejudice to the appeal pending before the Customs Appellate Tribunal.