ISLAMABAD: Islamabad High Court (IHC) has stopped the National Highway Authority (NHA) from charging additional toll tax on citizens using non M Tag lanes or M Tags with low balance.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir suspended the NHA notification that imposed a 50 percent extra toll charge, and the order will remain in place until the next hearing.
The court issued notices to NHA and other respondents in the case and has sought their response. Advocate Muhammad Jalal Haider represented the petitioner before the court.
The stay order means commuters will not be required to pay the additional toll amount while the case remains under consideration. The next hearing will determine whether the NHA notification is upheld or struck down.
Earlier this week, the decision by the NHA to impose a 50 percent additional toll on vehicles without an M-Tag or with insufficient M-Tag balance was challenged in the Islamabad High Court.
Lawyer Muhammad Jalal Haider filed the petition against the Ministry of Communications, NHA, and other respondents. He argued that the NHA Act authorises only the collection of toll tax and does not permit the authority to impose penalties for M-Tag-related issues.
The petition also claimed the additional charges were unconstitutional and sought to have the May 30, 2025 notification declared illegal, along with refunds for all penalties collected. It further requested details of the M-Tag balance mechanism and the way the system is implemented.
