June 7, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 6, 1424

ISLAMABAD, June 6: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Justice (Retd) Saleem Akhtar has asked collector of customs appraisement, Karachi, to immediately release the refund of a complainant.

An official announcement issued on Friday said that the justice ordered the collector to afford to the complainants the opportunity to furnish arguments in favour of their claims and produce evidence to substantiate the same.

The Ombudsman further asked the collector to examine the refund claims on merits and decide them by giving order verbally within 30 days of this order.

The decision was taken on the complaint of Real Trading Company, in which it has alleged that the customs department was not deciding the genuine refund claims filed for more than two years.

They stated that they had imported two consignments of White Coconut Edible Oil, which were assessed to 35 per cent duty instead of 25 per cent. For the recovery of excess duty paid, the complainant filed two claims in 2000, which was yet to be released.

The ombudsman observed that the complainants have not been provided the opportunity to explain their cases to the officer of competent jurisdiction to present arguments and offer solid evidence in their support.

He said that all efforts made by them in persuading the customs authorities to process and decide their refund claims have proved fruitless.

The Justice said it was a clear case of maladministration on the part of the customs authorities.