16/08/2024
SHC issues notices to Karachi mayor, others over tax collection through power bills
JI filed petition against Murtaza Wahab over tax collection via power bills; court demands a response by Aug 27
News Desk | August 16, 2024
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab and other relevant parties in response to a petition challenging the inclusion of municipal taxes in K-Electric bills.
On July 15, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) filed a contempt of court petition against Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, at the SHC concerning the collection of collection of Municipal Utility Charges and Taxes (MUCT) through electricity bills.
On May 30, SHC reserved its verdict in the case.
In today's hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Usman Farooq, argued that the addition of municipal taxes to electricity bills has exacerbated the public's frustration, already strained by K-Electric's performance, rising electricity prices, and billing issues.
The petition alleges that the Karachi mayor outsourced the collection of municipal taxes to K-Electric without consulting opposition parties, bypassing the input of Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI.
The petition requests the court to declare the municipal tax imposed by Mayor Murtaza Wahab as illegal and to nullify the agreement between Mayor Karachi and K-Electric.
The court has issued notices to the Karachi Mayor and other involved parties, demanding a response by August 27.