Interim Relief: LHC stays collection of tax from lawyers

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday stayed the collection of general sales tax (GST) from lawyers and issued notices to federal and provincial governments. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Wednesday passed the stay order while hearing a petition filed by the Lahore High Court Bar Association, the Lahore Tax Bar Association and the Lahore Bar Association. They had challenged the levy of 16 per cent GST from lawyers. LHCBA president Pir Masood Chishti stated that the imposition of the tax on lawyers’ fees would make the provision of justice unaffordable. “Litigants will have to bear the burden of the tax in addition to the fee,” he said. He requested the court to strike down the imposition of the GST. As an interim relief, Justice Shah stayed the recovery of the GST from lawyers and issued notices to the federal and provincial governments. The judge also sought assistance of the attorney general and the advocate general at the next hearing.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 10^th, 2015.