KARACHI: The custom authorities were directed by an appellate bench of High Court of Sindh to strictly comply with order given in sub para 2 of a case 2016 PTD and release consignments in dispute allowing benefit of provisional release of imported items.
Earlier the bench heard Imran Iqbal Khan, Asad raza Khan and Salman advocates representing a number of petitioners. The counsel submitted that SHC customs bench has allowed interim relief of release of goods where the importer/petitioner has questioned the Valuation Ruling for being issued in violation of Section 25-D of the Customs Act 1969.
The counsel appearing for Collector Customs South opposed the plea on the basis of a circulardated 22-11-2017 which said that consignments could be released only if SHC bench orders so.
The counsel for petitioners referring to the judgment in PTD 2016, 702 contended that customs department is not complying with the dictum laid down in the said case law and consignments are piling up at the port.
The bench after hearing the sides ordered the respondents to release consignments and directed them to adhere to order passed earlier in the cited case law.