MULTAN: The Multan Bench of Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) has been rendered non-functional following the ex-Pakistan leave of judicial member Muhammad Azam. The leave period spans from 4th July 2024 to 28th August 2024, causing a backlog of stay applications and significant inconvenience to taxpayers and their representatives.
In a letter addressed to the Hon’ble Chairman of the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, Islamabad, Mian Abdul Sattar, President, and Muhammad Imran Ghazi, General Secretary, have raised concerns regarding the resultant disruptions.
They highlighted that Mr. Azam’s absence has hindered the court’s operations, with numerous stay applications for interim relief pending.
The Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024, mandates that the court adhere to a predefined hearing schedule. Deviations from this schedule have caused substantial hardships for authorized representatives and taxpayers. Furthermore, representatives seeking adjournments due to rescheduled hearings are required to pay a fee of Rs. 50,000/- along with their application, adding to their burden.
The letter urges the Hon’ble Chairman to issue a fresh roster promptly to restore the court’s functionality and comply with the Tax Laws (Amendment) Act, 2024. The issuance of a new roster is seen as critical to minimizing the disruptions and ensuring that the Multan Bench operates smoothly.
Taxpayers and their representatives are hopeful for swift action from the Chairman to alleviate the current challenges and resume normal operations at the Multan Bench.
