KARACHI : A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Friday restrained Preventive Collectorate, Pakistan Customs and Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) from removing goods from petitioner factory Jamal Apparal, SITE.
The bench was hearing a constitutional petition filed by the factory against Secretary Revenue Division/Chairman FBR, Collector Customs, Preventive, Muhammad Faisal Deputy Collector, Customs Headquarters . Ghulam Hyder Shaikh advocate of Franklin Law Associates appearing for the petitioner submitted that since three days, ASO officials have taken control and not allowing any body in or out of the factory. He maintained that factory provides dying and processing services to its clients including local manufacturers and about 150 labourer work at the factory. The petitioner has been served with a notice under section 163 of the Customs Act 1969. The officials of preventive collectorate and ASO are harassing the petitioner who is cooperating with the Custom officials.
We are ready to provide whatever details needed by the custom officials but they continue to harass the petitioner besides have warned that if necessary documents, details are not provided by 56.m Friday, the allegedly smuggled cloth would be taken to Preventive HQ. The cloth available in the factory belong to clients and any action would erode the reputation of the petitioner, submitted Ghulam Hyder Advocate praying for an order restraining the respondents from removing the goods.
The bench after hearing the counsel for petitioner while issuing notices to the respondents for Oct 30 ordered that till next date of hearing status quo to be maintained by all parties including the petitioner and in particular even if the factory premises of the petitioner as stated by the counsel are under the control of the department, no goods shall be removed from the same without the permission of the Court by any person including the department. Department may however prepare an inventory of the goods lying at the subject property and produce the same before the Court on next date of hearing.