KARACHI: A division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Mrs Ashraf Jahan on Wednesday ordered personal appearance of Chief Collector South, Pakistan Customs to assist the court in a number of petitions filed by importers of betel nuts.
The case was fixed today for opinions by experts. Masooda Siraj, counsel for respondent Collector Customs, West opposed the plea by petitioners seeking “re-export” of the betel nuts or ‘Chalia’. She said that unless the petitioners declare their cargo “frustrated cargo” re-export could not be allowed. She maintained that in view of report from the laboratory the consignment is hazardous for humans and as such could only be destroyed.
The bench in order to arrive at a just solution decided to summon Chief Collector Customs, South for seeking assistance towards a solution.
More than 20 consignments are stuck up at Karachi port as custom authorities refused to release the same on ground that these are unfit for human consumption while more are coming.