KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has heard the arguments by Salman Talibuddin, Deputy Attorney General for Pakistan who defended the imposition of regulatory duty on more than 450 items.
The division bench was comprised Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Omar Sial.
DAG submitted that under the new laws, Minister Incharge is empowered to announce any levy at any time during a financial year without the consent of the cabinet. He was advancing arguments when the court rised due to demise of a senior advocate. The court adjourned further hearing till Nov 10 when it will hear additional arguments by the counsel for federal government.
The counsel for petitioners including lawyers for Franklin Law Associates, Kahlid Javed Khan, MsDil Khurram Shaheen and others appearing for petitioners including N.S Traders, F.G Trading Co, Enterprises, Dilshad and Sons, Premier Systems (Pvt) Ltd, Quick Food Industries (Pvt) Ltd, Muhammadi Traders, Bays International Pvt Ltd, Ali Traders, Loreal Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, United Brands Ltd , Abid Trading Co, Noor Traders, Credence Traders, Humak Engineering (Pvt), N.H Enterprises and others.
The petitioners maintain that RD was imposed without approval of the federal cabinet hence illegal. The government moved was aimed at checking inflation of country’s import bill.
