The Supreme Court ruled on Friday, declaring the professional tax imposed by Cantonment Board Karachi unconstitutional. This decision supports the prior verdict of the Sindh High Court (SHC).
Chief Justice’s Observations
Presiding over a three-member bench, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa emphasized that the Cantonment Board Karachi’s professional taxes starkly contrasted with the principles of transparency. He scrutinized the board’s decisions to sanction shopping malls on cantonment lands. CJP Qazi Faez Isa remarked, “The allocation of cantonment land was originally intended for military-specific objectives, not commercial endeavours.”
Drawing attention to the broader implications, he highlighted the necessity for institutions to align with their constitutional mandates and expressed hope that others would follow suit.
Additional Plea Dismissed
In the same session, the apex court also rejected a plea that contested the collection of taxes by the Cantonment Board from various entities such as restaurants, banks, and poultry farms.
