KARACHI: Pre-admission notices were issued to respondent custom officials for Oct 24 in a constitution petition filed by Balochistan Engineering Works Limited, importer of prime quality iron and steel products, by a division bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Mahmood Ahmed Khan here on Tuesday.
The bench earlier heard Rana Sakhawat Advocate, counsel for petitioner who submitted that imported items were classifiable under Chapter 72 of Pakistan Customs Tariff under relevant sub-chapter heading “Others”. He further submitted that respondents did not accept such declaration of petitioner and made provisional assessment on the basis of London Metal Exchange (LME) price which is not acceptable to the petitioner. However before consignment of petitioner could be released, four show cause notices were issued in respect of four Goods Declarations of the petitioner by Collector Customs (Adjudication II) wherein it was alleged that petitioner goods are not of prime quality. The counsel further submitted that petitioner is ready to attend the adjudicating proceedings. However he requested that respondents be directed to allow provisional release of the consignments of petitioner as petitioner is willing to secure the disputed amount as proposed in the show cause notices before the collectorate concerned in the form of pay order/bank guarantee.
The bench ordered issuance of pre-admission notices to the respondents for Oct 24 while directing them to draw samples in the presence of the petitioner or his nominee for lab test. The respondents were also directed to consider the request of the petitioner for provisional release subject to securing of disputed amount. The bench also sought compliance report by next date of hearing.