ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday dated in office the hearing of a tax reference filed by M/s Biafo Industries challenging a tax recovery claim of Rs783.3 million following absence of concerned lawyers from the court.
A single bench of the IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq adjourned the hearing after taking note of the lawyers’ absence and then dated in office.
During the previous hearing, the bench had asked the counsels to provide details of challenged show cause notice.
M/s Biafo Industries had filed the case challenging a show cause notice issued by the Large Taxpayers Unit, Islamabad. The company named the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), officers of the LTU, including the commissioner Inland Revenue, and others as respondents in the case.
M/s Biafo Industries had submitted that the LTU had issued the show cause notice in ignorance of law and the appellant’s submissions were not addressed.
The company prayed the court to stop the LTU from recovering the said amount and abstain from any coercive action against it. The company also submitted that the impugned order was issued under mala fide intentions and had no legal standing or authority and the court may decide on relief which it deemed appropriate in this regard. It also stated that a due legal course was not followed by the department in issuing the order.
M/s Biafo Industries prayed the court to suspend the notice until the decision on an appeal pending before the field office of the board.
