KARACHI: Hundreds of identical petitions involving identical moot legal point that whether Director Custom, Valuation is empowered to enhance the custom values of different items imported by lawful importers.
An appellate bench of High Court of Sindh was scheduled to hear these petitions clubbed together over previous many months but due to lawyers strike, the hearing was adjourned indefinitely here Tuesday as lawyers across the country boycotted court proceedings in protest against Multan issue. The delay makes little difference to importers as in 95 per cent cases, their consignments have been released on payment of differential amount between declared value and valuation ruling while suspending orders of Director Valuation for collecting custom duty on enhanced rates violating section 25 (d) of the Customs Act 1969. Still the decision may make custom collect huge money or importers will be getting sizeable amounts back into their kitty.
The enraged lawyers besides marching on Karachi streets, staged a sit-in on main M.A. Jinnah road disrupting traffic during afternoon rush hours. They later dispersed peacefully demanding that warrants issued against Multan Bar President be withdrawn.