KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed Customs officials to consider the request of petitioner to release its 6,690 pieces of bicycles on differential amounts on a petition filed by M/s Lucky Traders seeking release order of its consignments of bicycles.
On September 14, 2018, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, heard the matter. During the hearing, court also issued notices to the customs department and deputy attorney general, directing them to file their comprehensive para-wise comments on next date of hearing.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner appeared before the court and stated that it is engaged in the lawful business of import of bicycles and always fulfills all the legal formalities accordance with law.
He submitted that petitioner has imported two consignments of bicycles from China and filed Goods Declaration (GD) as per Valuation Ruling No 1300/2018 and approached the customs officials for release of his consignments, however, he was informed by the staff that his consignments were seized by the officials due to disputed valuation.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Chief Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement, Deputy Collector of Customs Collectorate of Appraisement Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, he pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court to direct them to release of his consignments of 3267 & 3423 pieces of bicycles of differential amounts immediately and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.