High courts directed to transfer super tax cases to SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) Constitutional Bench has directed the Islamabad and Lahore High Courts to transfer to the Supreme Court all pending appeals relating to the levy of Super Tax.

The five-member larger (Constitutional) Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, headed by Justice Amin ud Din Khan was conducting the proceedings.

On being mentioned by the lawyers that a number of appeals relating to the levy of Super Tax are pending in the High Courts, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar enquired about the procedure of transferring the cases from a high court to the Supreme Court.

Counsel for the Large-Scale Manufacturers (LSMs), Advocate Makhdoom Ali Khan said that a verbal request can be considered a formal request. The Constitutional Bench, however, can order transfer of the said cases exercising its suo motu powers.

The court then directed the Lahore and Islamabad High Courts to transfer all such cases to the Supreme Court and adjourned the hearing for Thursday. Some 332 LSMs of the country have challenged levy of the Super Tax in the Supreme Court.