KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended the impugned notices for recovery of income support levy of 0.5 percent on the value of net movable assets/wealth on several constitutional petitions filed by Nauman Ashfaq, Ashfaq Ahmed, Khurram Ashfaq, Azam Sultan and others.
While the hearing of separate petitions, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar issued notices to the tax authorities and deputy attorney general of Pakistan, directing them to file their para-wise comments on the next date of hearing. The court adjourned the hearing for January 24, 2016.
According to the petitioners, officials of the tax authorities issued notices to them for recovery of income tax of income support levy through income support levy act, 2013. The counsels argued that the income support levy @ 0.5 percent on the value of net movable assets/ wealth is illegal, without lawful authorities and of no legal effects.
Citing secretary Ministry of Law, secretary Revenue Division, deputy commissioner Inland Revenue Large Taxpayer Unit-II and the commissioner Inland Revenue Large Taxpayer Unit-II as respondents, petitioners pleaded that the court may declare that act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary and the court may restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioners.