KARACHI: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) on Tuesday adjourned betel nut case till April 18 as laboratory test report ordered to be filed by April 10 was delayed.
The bench was hearing a petition filed by one Bilqis Bano, owner of Jaker Products, SITE Karachi in which Federal Commerce Secretary, Chairman FBR, Director (TP), Secretary, Ministry of Food Security & Research, Director General Plant Protection, Collector Customs MCC East, West and Collector Appraisement were cited as respondents.
The petitioner maintained that they are producing and marketing “Sanam Gold Sweet Supari” since a decade. The petitioner challenged SRO 1067 of 2017 issued under sub section (1) of Section 3 of Imports and Exports Control 1950 under which Import Policy was amended restricting import of “Areca Nuts”.
The petitioner claimed that consignments imported by her are free from pests and diseases. The bench however hearing the counsel for petitioner and counsel for Pakistan Customs while observing that foremost issue in this case is that whether the imported item is fit for human consumption or not. The bench with the above observation ordered that a sample drawn from the consignments in dispute be sent for a laboratory test.
The bench directing to expedite the test report fixed April 18 as next date of hearing.