Capital traders decry property tax

Say move by CDA, IMC defies court orders

ISLAMABAD:

Traders in the federal capital on Tuesday accused the civic bodies of the city of demanding and receiving property tax even though the action has been halted by the court.

Representatives of trader bodies including the All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran (APNT) and Islamabad Traders Action Committee (ITAC) said that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had issued a stay order on collecting property taxes.

However, the Islamabad Municipal Corporation (IMC) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) have defied court orders to send tax receipts to traders.

The traders claimed that their delegation met with CDA’s Revenue Director to discuss the matter but he allegedly refused to grant them any relief in the taxes.

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When they approached the IMC directorate, it also turned down the orders of Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz in this regard.

The traders contended that the IHC had issued a stay on the collection of property tax in Islamabad due to the impacts of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown on businesses and it had maintained its decision until a verdict on the matter is issued by the Supreme Court (SC).

The business community claimed that corruption was on the rise in CDA’s revenue department, adding that even legal work cannot be completed without offering a bribe to officials.

They accused the CDA Revenue Director of unilaterally increasing property tax by 300 per cent.

The traders called for Mayor Aziz and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Chief Commissioner and CDA Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed to take notice of the situation and appoint a well-reputed official as the revenue director.

Further, the traders warned that they will surround CDA’s revenue office unless the court orders are implemented.

They also called for traders to stop giving bribes to CDA or IMC officials for any work.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2020.