KARACHI: Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui of High Court of Sindh on Wednesday adjourned hearing in a suit filed by Trustees of Karachi Port Trust against MV Sales and its Master for recovery of Port due amounting to millions of rupees until April 27.
Today when the Admiralty Suit was taken up by the bench, Ahsan Ghani advocate appeared for the plaintiff, Naeem Ahmed for Defendants, Kashif Nazeer and Ilyas Ahsan for Pakistan Customs while Ms. Soofia Saeed Karachiwala represented the auction purchaser.
Kashif Nazeer advocate appearing for Custom authorities sought four days time to assist the Court as to whether custom duty and other taxes can be imposed on a vessel which was auctioned on “as is where is basis”. He submitted that he has to lay hand on SRO’s and relevant notifications issued by the FBR time to time.
The counsel for auction purchaser opposed the plea taken by the counsel for Customs department and said matter is pending since long and port dues are accruing on daily basis. She requested for escorting the vessel to Gaddani ship breaking yard under the supervision of the Custom officials.
Kashif Nazeer submitted that he has no objection subject to applicability of the custom duty and taxes.
According to details the vessel registered at Faroe Islands arrived KPT on 31-5-2005 and since then is anchored at Baba Pool Mooring with its condition deteriorating every day. The vessel may not fetch the price even to pay the port dues now.