PHC seeks replies from FBR, others

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday directed the Federal Board of Revenue, Federal Finance Division and Ministry of National Health Services to submit replies in a writ petition challenging amendment made to the Federal Excise Act, which had resulted in reduction of prices of locally-manufactured cigarettes.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Ghazanfar Khan directed the respondent officials to furnish reply within seven days.

The court also asked the petitioner’s lawyer to file a rejoinder to the respondents’ replies before February 7, the next date of the hearing. The petitioner believed the price reduction would expose everyone, including children, to smoking and affect the local tobacco industry.

The court had on previous hearing stopped the federal government from acting on an amendment made to Federal Excise Act, which had resulted in cut in prices of locally-manufactured cigarettes.

The writ petition was filed by a resident of Swabi, Hameed Khan through his lawyer Babar Khan Yousafzai. The petitioner has challenged amendments to the Federal Excise Act on multiple grounds including health factors.