MULTAN: Multan Tax Bar Association (MTBA) has formally approached the Federal Minister for Law and Justice, urging immediate legislative action to grant legal recognition to Tax Bar Associations across Pakistan.
The demand comes in the wake of a recent Islamabad High Court ruling that questioned the legal standing of unregistered entities, casting uncertainty over the future operations of tax bars.
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In a letter addressed to the Minister, the association highlighted the implications of the court’s judgment in W.P. No. 2031/2023 (Sargodha Tax Bar Association vs. Federation of Pakistan) and its subsequent suspension in Intra Court Appeal No. 46 of 2025 (Mian Tauqeer Aslam vs. Sargodha Tax Bar Association).
The court’s observations, particularly regarding the locus standi of unregistered associations, have raised concerns about the continuity of these professional bodies, which play a key role in Pakistan’s tax and legal framework.
Founded in 1976, the Multan Tax Bar Association has been instrumental in promoting tax awareness in South Punjab, collaborating with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and trade bodies to strengthen compliance and revenue collection. However, the absence of legislative backing has left tax bars vulnerable to legal challenges.
Currently, the Legal Practitioners & Bar Councils Act, 1973, and related rules formally recognize only the Supreme Court Bar Association, High Court Bar Associations, District Bar Associations, and Tehsil/Sub-Divisional Bar Associations. Tax Bar Associations, despite their significant contributions, remain outside this framework, making them susceptible to legal scrutiny.
The association has urged the government to introduce legal provisions ensuring the formal recognition of tax bars, enabling them to continue supporting national revenue collection and legal advocacy efforts.
Copies of the appeal have also been forwarded to the Chairman of the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, the Chairman of the FBR, and the Chief Commissioners of Inland Revenue at RTO and LTO Multan.
