KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed a constitutional petition as not pressed due to none of appearance of petitioner, M/s Happy Trading Company Private Limited, who filed petition for seeking restoration of its sales tax registration number suspended by customs officials.
On September 12, 2018, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, was hearing the matter.
During the hearing, no one appeared on behalf of the petitioner and court was informed that counsel for the petitioner is busy in another bench. The court observed in its order that “during last date of hearing, court had warned the counsel for the petitioner that if nobody would appear on behalf of the petitioner on next date of hearing than petition will be dismissed”; therefore, petition is dismissed as not pressed along with listed petitions.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it is engaged in the lawful business of import, export and wholesaler and always fulfills all the legal requirements according with law, however, respondents issued show cause notice to the petitioner and suspended sales tax registration number with effect from November 10, 1998 without any lawful reason and authorities.
Citing Secretary Ministry of Finance, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Regional Tax Office-II, commissioner Inland Revenue Zone-IV, Regional Tax Office and others as respondents, counsel for the petitioner 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 inform the court why they took that action and reason of suspending its sales tax registration number, he also pleaded the court to direct them to restore its STRA and restrain them from taking further action against the petitioner till final order in this case.