The Lahore High Court on Tuesday sought replies from the Punjab government and the Excise and Taxation Department to dozens of petitions challenging the levy of a new luxury tax on properties of two kanals or more in some parts of the city.
The court directed the respondents to reply by the next hearing on September 5. The petitioners, mostly residents of Model Town and New Muslim Town, submitted that the levy of the tax only in some areas amounted to discrimination and thus violated the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
The petitioners said that the tax was not being levied in upscale neighbourhoods like Cantonment and the Defence Housing Authority.
They asked the court to set aside notices served on them by the Excise and Taxation Department for the payment of the tax as unconstitutional.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2013.