KARACHI: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan on Thursday fixed June 13 to hear a case filed by a Chinese firm BJP Oil seeking return of passports of its officials.

The passports are being in custody of Export Collectorate. According to details, the petitionercompany was supposed to re-export the equipment it brought into Pakistan for exploration purposes after expiry of a period of five years.

The Export Collectorate of Pakistan Customs however raised a demand saying that re-export was to be made after expiry of two years. The petitioner company while challenging the said demand before the departmental appellate forum deposited the money but still a FIR was registered and passports of the Chinese officials were taken into custody.

A lawyer from Franklin Law Associates representing the petitioner company submitted that the Chinese officials are working in Pakistan since more than two decades. They move in and out of Pakistan to see their families and unless their travel documents are returned, they cannot go back, the counsel submitted.

Deputy Attorney General appearing in the case sought time to seek instructions at which the bench adjourned further proceedings till June 13.