KARACHI: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omar Sial on Wednesday once again deferred hearing of a contempt of court application against Deputy Collector, Pakistan Customs, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and East till Dec 22.
The adjournment came as counsel for FBR and Collectorate, Sohail Muzaffar advocate stated that respondents have filed an application before apex court seeking stay of contempt proceedings before SHC. The counsel from Franklin Law Associates opposed the adjournment on behalf of the applicant/importers/petitioners saying that importers continue to face problems due to stuck up consignment imported legally.
The bench after this statement put of further hearing till Dec 22 observing that either the respondents shall obtain restraining order or release the goods by next date of hearing.
The bench made it clear that in case of failure, contempt proceedings would be initiated. The dispute pertains to grey fabric which importers say is of China origin while respondents term it to be of Indian origin and thus its import was prohibited under customs law and import policy order.