LAHORE, April 4: A Lahore High Court’s division bench on Wednesday adjourned for two weeks proceedings into identical petitions of family members of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, challenging alleged incorrect assessment of income tax.

Reason for the adjournment was cited that the tax department counsel needed time to advance arguments in rebuttal to the 52 identical petitions filed in 1995.

The bench, comprising Justice Nasim Sikandar and Justice Muhammad Sair Ali, also heard the arguments of Malik Tariq Aziz, counsel for the Sharif family.

The counsel while concluding his arguments submitted that the Income Tax Department had assessed the liability of the Ittefaq group and its directors at Rs20 million, but the tax was raised to Rs400 million during the first tenure of former premier Benazir Bhutto.

On an appeal before the department during the first Nawaz Sharif government, the tax amount was reduced to Rs20 million, he said, adding that during Benazir’s second tenure the income tax department had moved the second appeal and the tax amount was raised to Rs650 million.

He said the objection about the assessment was raised in about 1,213 days instead of the normal 60 days period, which was illegal. He said it was mere victimization and the whole process of raising the tax amount was illegal.