KARACHI: Justice Shafi Siddiqui of the High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Monday while hearing a suit filed by Bin Qasim International and Diamond Impex Corporation, importers of toilet soaps ordered release of consignments imported by the plaintiffs on payment of differential amount of custom duty and other taxes between declared value and assessed value.
Citing the Chairman FBR, Director General Valuation, Director Valuation and Collector Customs of Model Custom Collectorates (MCC), East & West and Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as defendants, the plaintiffs prayed to the court for declaration and permanent injunction against recovery from them.
The plaintiff also prayed to the court to declare the Valuation Ruling 863 of 2016 and Order in Revision as illegal and void as both were issued in violation of section 25-D of the Customs Act 1969.
The plaintiffs maintains that the value of the toiletries has fallen around the world and the prices have dropped considerably. They claimed to have purchased the toilet soap at a rate of US $ 400 while custom officials are assessing their consignment at a rate of US $ 660 per metric ton.
Today the bench after hearing the parties at length, ordered the customs to release the consignments ( provisional release) if the plaintiffs pay the differential amount also.