Order to transfer super tax pending appeals to SC

Islamabad: The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has ordered the transfer of pending appeals related to super tax in the Islamabad and Lahore High Courts to the Supreme Court.

A five-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the case against the implementation of the super tax.

At the beginning of the hearing, the lawyers pointed out that similar intra-court appeals were pending in the Lahore and Islamabad High Courts.

Private companies’ lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan said that the Supreme Court has the constitutional authority to transfer pending cases to itself, and the authority to transfer cases has been clarified after the constitutional amendment.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar asked whether any written application would be required for the transfer of cases.

To which Makhdoom Ali stated that the court's request can also be considered a verbal application. In addition, the court can also transfer cases using suo motu power, the power to transfer cases will be considered in conjunction with Article 187.

The constitutional bench ordered the transfer of appeals pending in the Islamabad and Lahore High Courts to the Supreme Court.

The lawyer for private companies Makhdoom Ali Khan, began his arguments against the implementation of super tax from his previous hearing.

Lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan said that the government cannot directly implement super tax, it is mandatory to give a reason for any tax to be imposed, and there must be exceptional circumstances for super tax. The Supreme Court has declared additional tax wrong in several decisions, imposing additional tax is also against fundamental rights.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing of the super tax case until tomorrow. Lawyer Makhdoom Ali will continue his arguments tomorrow as well.