Tax collection: Minhaj told to seek relief at the right forum

Counsel for Minhaj says it is a charity organisation exempted from tax collection, FBR's counsel disagrees

LAHORE: Lahore High Court on Monday asked Minhajul Quran to approach appropriate forum to seek relief on its petition challenging show cause notices issued by the Federal Board of Revenue for tax collection.

Advocate Ali Zafar, counsel for Minhaj, told Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh the Minhaj was a charity organisation and was thus exempted from tax collection. He said the Minhaj had not paid tax since its inception. He said the FBR had issued the show cause apparently under pressure from the government. He called the notices illegal and unconstitutional.

The FBR’s counsel said according to rules the Minhaj was not a charity and had no exemption from tax. He denied that the notices had been issued under any pressure. The judge disposed of the petition asking the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum for relief

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2014.