KARACHI: A customs appellate bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi and Justice Agha Faisal on Thursday ordered Pakistan Customs (MCC East) to release consignments of tyres.
The bench earlier heard counsel from Franklin Law Associates appearing for petitioners Atif Brothers (Pvt) Ltd, WTA Traders and Saiban International.
The counsel submitted that fresh consignments of petitioners were detained by the custom authorities on ground that previously released consignments were short of payment (custom duty and taxes).
The counsel submitted that respondents have admitted that proceedings under section 169 of the Customs Act 1969 were not initiated yet the demand for payment of short duty was raised.
The bench agreed that adjudicating authority could have raised the demand and not the Collector Custom.
The bench held that custom authorities must follow the proper course of action if any short payment is detected against petitioners. The bench with the above observation ordered.