KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has continued interim order it had passed earlier until the next date of hearing on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Tristar Transport (Private) Limited against impugned recovery notice of Rs 584.794 million.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Iqbal Kalhoro and Justice Khadim Hussain M Sheikh, was hearing the petition. During the hearing, deputy attorney general Asim Mansoor Khan sought time to submit para wise comments. Therefore, the court adjourned the hearing for the date which would be announced according to the roaster.
On last date of hearing, the court had passed the interim order and had directed the tax authorities not to take any coercive measures against the petitioner till further order and repeated notices to respondents and asked them to submit their respective comments.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is engaged in providing transport and logistics facilities for carriage of petroleum, oil lubricants, and also chemicals/commercial products by land and is a regular e-filer of income tax returns up to tax year 2015. However, officials of the respondents passed order dated June 20,2016 creating a total tax liability of Rs 584,794,123 as per amended order passed under section 122 ( 1 ) read with section 122 ( 5 ).
According to the petitioner, it filed an appeal and stay application before appellate authority concerned, which are still pending.
Citing Ministry of Law secretary, FBR chairman, Large Taxpayers Unit-II Inland Revenue (IR) Zone-III commissioner and IR Audit Unit deputy commissioner as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the SHC may declare the impugned demand notice as illegal, unjustified and malafide order. It also pleaded the court may restrain them from taking any coercive measures against it.