KARACHI: The release of mobile accessories was ordered against payment of disputed amount to be deposited with the Nazir of High Court of Sindh.
The order was passed by a custom appellate bench comprising Justice Junaid Ghaffar and Justice Agha Faisal while hearing a petition filed by Messers Uni Champion Trading and Gerry’s Global Trade through prominent law firm Franklin Law Associates.
The bench earlier heard a counsel from the law firm who stated that petitioners challenged Valuation Ruling 1462 0f 2020 dated 11-8-2020 by filing a Revision Application. The said application was dismissed vide Order in Revision dated 21-10-2020.
The counsel from Franklin Law Associates further submitted that the petitioner companies then filed appeals before Special Customs Appellate Tribunal (SCAT) bearing No K1811 and 1813 of 2020.
The counsel informed the bench that in the meanwhile more consignments of the petitioner have arrived at the port. It was also pointed out that the SCAT is non-functional at present.
The bench after hearing the sides ordered that in the circumstances and without prejudice to the merits of the case, the disputed amount as claimed by the respondent Model Customs Collectorates (MCC) East, West and Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, the consignment be released after deposition of such amount with the Nazir of the court. The Nazir was directed to issue a certificate of deposit after which respondents shall release the consignments. The bench also asked the Nazir to invest the amount in a government profit instrument while Jan 21 was fixed as next date of hearing.