KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the chairman Appellate Tribunal Islamabad to appoint a senior member at the Karachi bench to avoid in delay of hear the cases of urgent nature.
The court ordered this on a constitutional petition filed by M/ Life Line Diagnostic Medical Centre Karachi, seeking direction for early disposal of its appeal pending before appellate tribunal over impugned show cause notice issued by tax authorities. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing the case.
After the hearing, the court disposed of the petition with direction that “the petitioner approach the chairman Appellate Tribunal headquarters, Islamabad, seeking fixation of the appeal for an early date, it is expected that the chairman appellate tribunal may issue appropriate orders on such a request of the petitioner to avoid any hardship to the petitioner or coercive action by the respondents for the recovery of the impugned demand.”
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it is running a hospital in the name and style of Life Line Diagnostic Medical Centre at North Nazimabad Karachi. On November 29, 2016, officials of the commissioner IR zone-II regional tax office-III Karachi entered the premises of the petitioner and took record into their custody. The officials made an assessment and told the petitioner to pay Rs 147 million tax against declared receipts of Rs 158.4 million.
According to the petitioner, being aggrieved, it filed an appeal before appellate tribunal along with stay application which are pending. However, in the absence of any stay order it has apprehension of coercive action from the tax department.
Citing Secretary Ministry of Law, Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the court to direct the appellate tribunal to decide its appeal along with stay application.
