KARACHI: A division bench of High Court of Sindh headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi on Tuesday ordered District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Malir to file written comments in a petition challenging illegal tax from a petitioner company exporting halal meat.
Messers P.K LiveStock & Meat Co. filed the petition making the Secretary Local Government, DMC Malir, SSP Malir, Pakistan Ranfers and others respondents alleging that a company namely H.K Enterprises is taking a tax of rupees 400 on big cattle head while rupees 250 per sheep/goat. Adnan Memon advocate appearing for the petitioner submitted that respondent firm obtained a contract for vaccinating the mulching animal while animals brought in by the petitioner are for slaughter and export of meat. The business by the petitioner falls within the revenue jurisdiction of the federal government, he submitted.
The petitioner pointed out that trawlers carrying animals were detained for more than 6-8 hours and released only after payment of rupees 800,000 or 900,000. The counsel for respondent DMC Malir pointed out that receipt shows it was issued by DMC Karachi. There is no DMC Karachi, he submitted at which bench posed a number of questions and later observed that illegal tax collection amounts to “extortion”.
The FIR shall be lodged against the contractor, the bench said. The petitioner if aggrieved shall lodge the FIR, the counsel for DMC replied.
The bench after this statement by the DMC Malir counsel asked him to submit comments in writing so that issue of illegal taxation is tackled.
The bench then fixed Nov 08 for further proceedings.