KE, KMC response sought on municipal tax hike in power bills

The constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court has sought responses from K-Electric and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation on a petition challenging the increase in municipal tax included in electricity bills.

The two-member bench, headed by Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed, heard the petition filed by City Council Opposition Leader Saifuddin.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Usman Farooq, argued that the court had last year granted conditional permission for the imposition of the tax. He stated that any imposition or increase in the tax requires approval from the city council.

The counsel further contended that Mayor Murtaza Wahab unlawfully increased the tax without obtaining council approval. He requested the court to declare the increase illegal, adding that a fresh petition had been filed due to non-compliance with earlier court orders.

It was also argued that the court had directed that the tax be implemented in consultation with the opposition. However, the mayor imposed the Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes (MUCT) through electricity bills without such consultation.

Disability quota jobs

The constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court has sought a compliance report within two weeks on a petition against the Karachi Development Authority (KDA) for not granting employment to visually impaired siblings.

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Usman Farooq Advocate, argued that the court had previously ordered both individuals to be regularised under the disability quota. The petitioners, Saima and Mujtaba, were appointed in KDA on a contract basis and worked there for two to three years.