KARACHI: An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan on Thursday disposed of a petition filed by Khafi Garments challenging the suspension of Sales Tax Registration (STRN))and subsequent blacklisting of the petitioner company.
The STRN was suspended on ground that petitioner was misusing status of a manufacturer under SRO 1125 (1) OF 2011 while in fact engaged in commercial activities.
The petitioner citing the Chairman FBR, Chief Comissioner RTO III, Inland Revenue, Commissioner Inland Revenue, Zone VI, Corporate Registration and Collector Customs, MCC, Appraisement, West impugned the actions by the IR authorities.
A counsel from Franklin Law Associates appearing for the petitioner maintained that the petitioner firm is registered as a manufacturer of textile good, fabrics, garments and that their registration was suspended by IR authorities without any notice.
During course of arguments, the counsel said that his appeal is pending adjudication before the appellate forum. He relied on a circular issued by the FBR that if a registered person do not have enough capacity he may be treated as commercial importer and consignments be cleared on payment of duties and taxes as specified in clause VIII of the SRO concerned.
The bench after hearing Ms. Afsheen Aman, counsel for IR authorities and counsel from Franklin Law Associates representing the petitioner disposed of the petition directing the importer to approach Custom authorities for release of consignments after payment of taxes, duty as per circular of FBR while beside persuing appeal before the appellate authority of IR for redressal of other grievances.