KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed the counsel for the tax department to submit its para-wise comments on next date of hearing on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Wings Security (Pvt) Ltd seeking exemption income tax certificate.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Munib Akhtar, was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, court was informed that counsel for respondents/customs department was busy in Supreme Court of Pakistan therefore case may be adjourned. Court adjourned the hearing and directed tax department to file comments on next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is running a security agency and hiring retired army personals as well as private persons and has obtained a license from the federal government. The petitioner submitted that it is regularly paying renewal fee within the stipulated time and has written an application to the respondent for granting exemption in income tax under Section 153 (4) of the Income Tax Ordinance-2001.
The petitioner added that the exemption was granted and respondent issued exemption certificate which was extended time to time. However the petitioner filed an application for issuance of exemption certificate from the period of 1st January 2016 to 30th of June 2016 but it was informed it had failed to fulfil the conditions laid down in the ministry of law and justice and human rights. Therefore its application was refused / rejected.
Citing Secretary to Ministry of Finance, Chairman FBR, The Chief Commissioner, Inland Revenue, Regional Tax Officer -III, Karachi, The Commissioner of income tax, Zone I, RTO Karachi as respondents, the counsel pleaded with the court to direct the respondents to issue exemption certificate to the petitioner without any further delay.