KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has adjourned the hearing of a constitutional petition filed by M/s Royal Impex for restoration of its sales tax registration number seized by the Customs Department. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omer Sial, was hearing the petition.
On the last date of hearing, the court had provided the petitioner interim relief by restoring its sales tax number temporarily.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is engaged in the lawful business as commercial importer/ exporter/ wholesaler and fulfilling all the liabilities properly.
According to the counsel, the petitioner was informed by one of his clearing agents that his sales tax registration number has been shown as suspended with effect from July 14, 2017. He argued that neither any show cause notice nor a formal notice was issued to the petitioner in this regard.
Citing Secretary Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs, Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue Corporate Regional Tax Office and Commissioner Inland Revenue, Corporate Regional Tax Office as respondents, the counsel pleaded the court to declare that act of the Customs Department as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
He also pleaded the court to quash the suspension order on dated July 13, 2917 and also direct the respondents to issue instruction for immediate resumption of the sales tax registration number.