PML-N gov’t faces first and huge embarrassment in Supreme Court

The PML-N government faces the first and huge embarrassment in the Supreme Court over its decision to increase the petroleum products and also hike in the GST.

The apex court heard a suo moto case regarding increase in petroleum prices summoned FBR officials to clarify the situation.

A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is hearing the case.

The Chief Justice remarked how sales tax can be imposed without the passage of budget and approval by the President.

The court expressed reservations on the increase ordered in the general sales tax which has resulted in a price-hike of consumer goods and petroleum products without the approval of the finance bill by Parliament.

The gov’t increased prices of petroleum products ordered on the basis of announcements made by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in his budget speech.

During the hearing, the chief justice questioned as to how the increase in GST proposed in the finance bill could be implemented without its adoption by Parliament.

Chief Justice Iftikhar added that the court had reservations on the collection of the increased GST and that the additional tax collected in this respect should be returned to the public.

The court moreover directed the authorities to produce the notification for implementing the increased GST.

Responding to which, the government’s top law officer and Attorney General Munir A. Malik said he did not have a copy of the document.

Following which, the bench summoned FBR officials along with the notification authorizing the implementation of the proposed increase in GST.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Jun 14 2013. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.