Reply sought in tax amnesty scheme case

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court Wednesday directed the federal government to tell it whether the cabinet’s approval had been granted before tax amnesty scheme was passed by the parliament in 2016 specifically for the trader class. 

Earlier, Advocate Sheraz Zaka argued that tax amnesty accorded specifically for traders was discriminatory and in violation of fundamental rights of citizens.

He questioned that why tax amnesty scheme had been specifically created for the traders and given them exemptions from filing tax returns for the past ten years and also given them exemptions from the scrutiny of audit and filing wealth statement.

The lawyer argued that instead of bringing structural reforms the federal government and federal board of revenue had taken this short term measure rather taking prosecution measures against the trader class. Justice Shahid Karim adjourned hearing for three weeks and asked the federal government law officer to find out whether the cabinet approval was given as it was indispensable.