SC issues notices in GB tax collection case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Tuesday sought responses from the parties in a matter related to tax collection in Gilgit-Baltistan and adjourned the hearing for date-in-office.

A five-member constitutional bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the petitions filed by Muhammad Raziq and Daulat Kareem against tax collection in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Munir Paracha, counsel for the petitioners, argued that according to several official notifications, the federal government itself had acknowledged that taxes could not be imposed in Gilgit-Baltistan.

In response, the court called Additional Attorney General Amir Rehman to the rostrum and directed him to present the government’s stance. He stated that he had not yet reviewed the matter.

Munir Paracha contended that the federal government was collecting unauthorized taxes from the local residents at the Sost border, even though all goods entering Gilgit-Baltistan were used locally. Despite this, he submitted that the federal government continued to collect taxes.

Justice Aminuddin Khan, addressing the Additional Attorney General, remarked that if goods brought into Gilgit-Baltistan were consumed locally, then the government should formulate a policy ensuring that items used within the region were exempted from taxation.