LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has refused to hear the collection case of the Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess and sent it to the LHC chief justice.
According to the details, the LHC has already stopped the Punjab government from collecting the Punjab Infrastructure Development Cess till further order.
Justice Shahid Karim heard the case filed by Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed. During the hearing of the case, the counsel for the petitioner said that this tax was imposed by the Punjab government and the Punjab Revenue Authority (PRA) collects this tax at the ratio of 0.9 percent from all industries of the province on imports and exports which is illegal. He argued that only the federal government has the authority to impose any tax and levy of tax by provincial government is illegal.
He said that imposition of this tax is violation of section 142 and 151 of Infrastructure Development Cess Act. He appealed before the court to restrict Punjab government for the collection of Infrastructure Development Cess. After hearing the arguments Justice Shahid Karim has issued stay order and stopped the provincial government to collect Infrastructure Development tax till next date of hearing.
Yesterday, Jutice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court sent case to the chief justice with remarks that the same type cases proceedings already pending in the court and he cannot hear this case.
