FBR's tax notice: Notices issued over Ayyan's plea

Model has asked SHC to restrain authorities as appeal is pending

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Friday notices to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other institutions seeking comments on a petition filed by currency smuggling accused Ayyan Ali pertaining to a tax notice.

The FBR raised a tax demand of Rs18.8 million against the model in June last year on the basis of the nearly $0.5 million she was allegedly trying to smuggle abroad when she was arrested at the Islamabad airport in March 2015.

According to the FBR, the demand was made under Section 123 of the Income Tax Ordinance which allows the authority to recover tax on a concealed asset impounded by any government agency.

However, Ayyan moved the SHC against the tax notice, pleading the court to restrain authorities from approaching her since an appeal was already pending with the tax collection agency.

SHC Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar issued notices to the respondents, including FBR, federal law secretary, commissioner inland revenue and DHA, to file their comments over the matter by January 28.



Meanwhile, another application filed by the model requesting her name to be taken off the Exit Control List was adjourned owing to the death of senior lawyer Akhtar Ali Mehmood.

Ayyan's name was put on the no-fly-list following her bail by a Customs court in the currency smuggling case in Rawalpindi.

She maintains that barring her movement is tantamount to violation of fundamental rights under the Constitution.

The matter, in which the interior ministry and airport authorities have been made respondents, is now fixed for hearing on January 19.