KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Customs Department and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Digicom Trading (Private) Limited (QMobile), M/s Abdullah and Company, M/s Continental Biscuits Limited and M/s Zamzama Ceramics Centre, challenging imposition of regularity duty on the import of goods under Valuation Ruling no 1035 (1)/ 2017, issued on October 16, 2017. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, was hearing the matter on Thursday.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioners stated that they are engaged import of different items from various countries and fulfill all the liabilities according to the law, however, being aggrieved and dissatisfied with the unlawful imposition of regularity duty on import of goods vide VR 1035(1)/2017 dated October 16, 2017 inter-alia on GSM mobile phones, tiles, desiccated coconut and other related goods imported by the petitioners.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement East, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement West and Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, importers pleaded the court to declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary.
They also pleaded the court to declare that imposition of regularity duty as unlawful and restrain them from taking any coercive action against them till final order in their petition.