LAHORE: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has submitted its response in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on a writ petition challenging tax amnesty scheme introduced under Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019.
The FBR stated in its reply that that it is now the prerogative of the Parliament to approve, amend or repeal the Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019.
LHC issued notices to the federal government, ministry of finance, ministry of law, speaker, national assembly and chairman FBR.
The petition was filed by tax lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt before the Lahore High Court.
The petitioner has argued that there is another financial “National Reconciliation Ordinance” under the umbrella of ‘ADO, 2019′ recently promulgated by the President through an ordinance in terms of Article 89 of the Constitution.
The petitioner’ contention of labeling the impugned scheme as an NRO is not tenable, the FBR’s comments to the court said.
The reply stated that “introducing amnesty scheme for tax dodgers is simply nothing but one step forward and two steps back.
Through present petition the petitioner questions the promulgation of ordinance in terms of Article 89 of the Constitution titled as ‘Assets Declaration Ordinance, 2019’ by undermining the authority of the Parliament, he said.
The FBR states before the LHC that “the constitution of Pakistan itself makes allowance for promulgation of a law though an Ordinance, under compelling circumstance.
It is now the prerogative of the Parliament to approve, amend or repeal it. Reply on behalf of respondent no. 4 (FBR), has been filed, however, the same is still awaited on behalf of the remaining respondents.
