KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday barred the port authorities from transferring over Rs30 million, frozen from the accounts of the foreign firm over the allegations of stamp duties evasion, to the revenue or accountability bureau.
Headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, the bench passed this direction on a petition filed by the China International Water and Electric Company against deduction of the amount from its bills allegedly in an unlawful manner over the allegations of stamp duties evasion.
It had named the interior ministry, ports and shipping ministry, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) as respondents in the plea.
The Supreme Court, while hearing the Karachi law and order suo motu case, had ordered the Board of Revenue (BoR) chief to ensure full recovery of the duties on the ports to be injected to the fragile economy.
The firm’s lawyer, Haider Waheed, told the judges that his client had participated in the tender floated by the KPT for dredging and reclamation at the Pakistan Deep Water Container Port. The petitioner company being the lowest bidder was awarded the contract.
He said the NAB officials issued a letter on May 20 to the KPT secretary and the petitioner, saying that an inquiry has been initiated against them and the chief inspector.
“The allegation against the petitioner is that on awarding of the contract. They have fraudulently deposited deficient stamp duty,” he referred to the NAB inquiry.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2014.
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