KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to submit comments on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Dany Technologies, M/s Uni Champion Trading, M/s Grerry’s Global Trade and M/s Wajahat Electronics against detention of imported consignments comprising mobile speakers, earphones, mobile chargers, power bank, tablets etc under the garb of valuation ruling No 1462/2020.
On 12 October 2020, a two-member bench headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing the matter.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that petitioner imported consignments of mobile accessories of various brand including mobile speakers, earphones, mobile chargers, power bank, tablets etc, some of which have duly arrived at port while some others are due to arrive in a short span of time.
He further argued that petitioners are aggrieved and prejudiced by the illegal and mala fide action of the customs officials, whereby the valuation ruling bearing No 1462/2020 dated August 11, 2020 whereby values of mobile accessories were unilaterally enhanced and fixed at exorbitant values.
Counsel informs the court that petitioner being aggrieved by the arbitrary, illegal and mala fide action of the respondents, who are refusing to allow provisional release in compliance of rules 125 (2) of the customs rules, 2001, whereby the department is required to provisionally release the fresh consignments of the importer even if he has not filed any review petition under section 25D.
Citing chairman FBR, chief collector of Customs Appraisement, collector of Customs Appraisemnt East, West, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and DG Valuation as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that the respondents are libale to release the pending consignments and future consignments of the petitioner on the declared value or by securing differential amount as per court orders.