LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday disposed of petitions filed by PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz and others challenging notices served by inland revenue department of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for the recovery of income support levy.

Disposing of the petitions, Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh directed the petitioners to file appeals against a single bench’s decision wherein powers of the inland revenue department to recover the levy had been upheld.

The counsels for the petitioners contended that the recovery of income support levy was a violation of the country’s law and the Constitution.

They said it was up to the provincial social welfare department to work towards the welfare of the public and that the inland revenue department lacked authority to impose and recover a tax in the name of social protection after the passage of the 18th constitutional amendment.

The department had issued a notice to Maryam for recovery of income support levy on assets worth more than Rs317 million.

Previously, the court also disposed of an identical petition filed by Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shahbaz.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2019