KARACHI: A customs appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) summoned Chief Collector, Pakistan Customs to appear in person on Nov 14 in Circular case.
The bench earlier heard Ghulam Haider Shaikh advocate, counsel from Franklin Law Associates who submitted that custom officials cannot deny the benefit of section 81 of Pakistan Customs Act 1969 which allows provisional release of the imported items. He relied on Danish Jehangiri case and said apex court has settled the issue of benefit to the importers. The counsel said that as per customs after amendment to section 107 of Custom Rules 2001 which added sub section (a), importers are not entitled to the benefit of section 81.
The counsel stated that 100 petitions are now awaiting judgment and delay is causing loss to the importers/petitioners.
The bench after hearing the sides ordered Collector Custom concerned to appear before the bench on Nov 14, to explain that despite settled law why the petitioners were deprived of benefit of section 81 of Pakistan Customs Act1969.