PHC slaps Rs10k fine on PDA for failing to present legal counsel
The Peshawar High Court has imposed a fine of Rs10,000 on the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) for failing to present legal counsel during a hearing on a petition challenging the non-allotment of residential plots to employees of the Local Government and PDA.
The case was heard by Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Faheem Wali. During the proceedings, no lawyer appeared on behalf of the PDA. The court was informed that the lawyer previously assigned to the case had been removed from PDA's legal panel.
Representing the petitioners, Advocate Mumtaz Ahmed informed the court that his clients are employees of the PDA and Local Government, and as per court rulings and official regulations, they are entitled to plot allotments. However, the PDA has yet to allocate these plots.
A PDA representative explained that the absence of legal counsel was due to the fact that a new legal panel had not yet been constituted. Seeking more time, the official requested a delay.
In response, Justice Arshad Ali remarked, "Are we here to wait for your panel decisions? You create panels at will and dissolve them at will. We are imposing a penalty and giving you one last opportunity."
The court subsequently fined the PDA Rs10,000 for failing to present a lawyer and ordered the authority to ensure legal representation at the next hearing.
On the other hand, PHC has ordered the issuance of Pakistan Origin Cards (POCs) to two Afghan nationals married to Pakistani women, upon fulfillment of all necessary legal requirements. The court disposed of the writ petition after passing the directive.
The case was heard by a two-member bench.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
34 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Govt reaffirms energy reform commitment
Listen to article Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to a resilient and sustainable energy future during his keynote address at the Ministerial Plenary session titled 'Global Cooperation for a Resilient and Sustainable Energy Future' at the 30th Baku Energy Forum. According to a statement released on Tuesday, in his speech, Malik congratulated Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and pledged Pakistan's full cooperation with the forum's transition agenda, which aims to shift from a fossil fuel-driven framework to a balanced energy mix. He emphasised Pakistan's strategic realignment under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's leadership towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and coherent energy paradigm. Highlighting Pakistan's ongoing industrialisation, Malik noted that the country's rising energy demand must be met by integrating renewable energy sources and technology. To support this, he announced the revival of the Cabinet Committee on Energy, chaired by the prime minister, to enhance coordination between the Petroleum and Power Divisions and ensure cohesive policy evolution. The minister also detailed Pakistan's efforts to expand its gas infrastructure by encouraging local exploration, acknowledging the assistance of Azerbaijan and other partner countries in developing indigenous gas resources. He said conservation measures and reform initiatives are underway to dismantle inefficiencies and ensure long-term sustainability of the gas sector. "Despite economic challenges, Pakistan is committed to making the gas sector sustainable by dismantling inefficiencies and implementing reforms," Malik stated. "Reform is the cornerstone of the prime minister's vision for a resilient energy future." Attendees at the plenary included Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, the Turkish Deputy Minister of Energy, and Director of Energy at the European Commission Cristina Lobillo. Separately in Islamabad, Malik held a bilateral meeting with Rovshan Najaf, President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), to enhance energy cooperation between the two countries. The discussion focused on deepening bilateral ties, potential joint ventures, and attracting investment in Pakistan's oil and gas sector. Malik reiterated Pakistan's intent to strengthen partnerships with leading global energy firms and stressed the government's commitment to creating an investor-friendly climate. Najaf praised Pakistan's progress in the energy sector and reaffirmed SOCAR's interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistani stakeholders.
Express Tribune
34 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Aus confirm Pakistan tour in 2026
Cricket Australia (CA) is gearing up for a white-ball series tour to Pakistan, scheduled for early next year, signaling a positive step towards strengthening cricketing ties between the two nations. During an online press conference, CA CEO Todd Greenberg conveyed his positive outlook on the upcoming tour, emphasising the significance of the series against Pakistan and the ongoing collaboration between the two cricket boards. "I believe it will be another good tour of Pakistan. The series against Pakistan is an important part of our schedule. There has been good communication between Pakistan and Australia regarding both red-ball and white-ball series," Greenberg said. "We need to look for more opportunities for series, which we will definitely do," he added. Looking back on the 2022 tour, Greenberg expressed enthusiasm about future matches in Pakistan. "We would like to play a series in Pakistan. In 2022, we toured Pakistan after a long gap, and the tour was very successful. The Australian team received a warm welcome. It would be great if such series continue to happen." Greenberg emphasised the league's commitment to bringing in talent from Pakistan, recognising the popularity of Pakistani players among fans, and explained the mutual benefits of such participation. "There is no doubt that Pakistani players are very popular within the community. Our effort is to attract players from all over the world for the BBL," he said. "If leading Pakistani players come, they will definitely enjoy it here. The league will benefit greatly from these top players for their teams and franchises," he added. Regarding player participation, Greenberg confirmed, "I hope we will definitely attract some players for the next edition of the BBL." It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan last toured Australia in November 2024 for a white-ball series. Under Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy, the Men in Green secured a historic 2-1 victory in the ODI series - their first series win in Australia since 2002. However, Australia bounced back strongly, winning the subsequent T20I series 3-0. For the unversed, according to the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 202527, Australia are expected to tour Pakistan for a white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is in FebruaryMarch. White-ball camp The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has summoned 22 top white-ball performers for a camp, including the senior trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi on Monday. According to the details, the shortlisted 22 players will report for the camp here in three groups, scheduled to be held on June 3, 4 and 5 respectively. During the camp, the PCB will inform the players about the future course of action, while their fitness and respective performances will also be analysed. Sources further suggested that senior players will participate in all three training sessions, which will also feature the top performers of the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10. Furthermore, Pakistan's white-ball head coach Mike Hesson will meet with top performers and will update them regarding the future course of action. Players called up for training camp: Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shahid Aziz, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Mir Hamza, Abdullah Shafique, Khawaja Nafay, Haider Ali, Ahmed Daniyal, Mehran Mumtaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Nawaz, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza and Tayyab Tahir. For the unversed, Pakistan's white-ball entered a new era under the leadership of former New Zealand head coach Hesson. The 50-year-old had an ideal start to his tenure as the green shirts registered a 3-0 T20I series whitewash against Bangladesh, which also marked their first series triumph at home since December 2021. Following the drought-ending series victory over Bangladesh, Pakistan are scheduled for a brief break before touring back to Bangladesh next month for a potential three-match T20I series.
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
IMF rejects wealth tax, chicken duty
Listen to article The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has objected to the government's contentious proposals to impose a capital value tax on moveable assets and to slap a 5% federal excise duty on one-day-old chicks — measures that underscore the business-as-usual approach of the tax machinery. While the IMF did not endorse the tax on moveable assets and one-day-old chicks, it did agree to the imposition of a tax on digital services aimed at raising Rs10 billion in revenue, according to sources in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). There is also a budget proposal to increase the tax on dividend income of mutual funds from 15% to 20%. The withholding tax on interest income may also go up from 15% to 20%, according to officials of the FBR. Among the proposals that may be announced on budget day is the withdrawal of income tax exemption for venture capital companies and funds, according to senior FBR officials. The income tax exemption for the cinema business may also be withdrawn. There has so far been no relief in reducing the income tax rates for the highest slab of 35%, and the 10% surcharge on monthly incomes exceeding Rs500,000 may also remain, said FBR sources. However, the IMF has agreed to reduce the income tax rates for the remaining four slabs, providing some relief on monthly incomes below Rs500,000. It has not agreed to increase the income tax exemption threshold to Rs1.2 million but has approved cutting the rate from 5% to 1%. The sources said that the government wanted to reintroduce the wealth tax in the form of a capital value tax on all moveable assets, excluding shares of listed companies. The proposal had also been presented at the level of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said FBR officials. The proposal to impose tax on moveable assets such as cash and gold was also shared with the IMF, said the officials. However, the IMF did not endorse the proposal on the grounds that the government should tax income instead of taxing wealth. The FBR wanted to target cash balances in banks to raise revenue, according to FBR officials. Through the Finance Act 2022, the government had introduced a 1% CVT on foreign assets worth over Rs100 million owned by resident Pakistanis, but it has been challenged in the courts. The finance ministry and the FBR on Tuesday gave a briefing to PM Sharif about the budget contours, including measures that the IMF has cleared so far, the sources added. Some issues were still outstanding, including the relief for the real estate sector and the capital value tax. President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday convened a National Assembly session for June 10, where Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb will deliver his second budget speech. The Economic Survey of Pakistan is expected to be unveiled on June 9, the third day of Eid. The FBR also wanted to introduce a 5% federal excise duty on one-day-old chicks, but the IMF did not support the idea. It pointed out that, on one hand, the FBR claims there are high taxes on food in Pakistan, and on the other hand, it recommends such proposals. Proposals like the tax on one-day-old chicks and moveable assets indicate that the FBR has run out of ideas. The IMF's concern was that taxing one-day-old chicks was not aimed at broadening the tax base; rather, it targeted a specific industry, said the sources. The FBR did not conduct any study before proposing the tax on chicks, which are an essential food item. The measure was rooted in a tax case involving just one company among hundreds, revealing the shallowness of the proposal. Last month, President Zardari issued the Tax Laws Amendment Ordinance, 2025, and one of the reasons was a poultry sector company. The government inserted a new section, 175C, in the Income Tax Ordinance through ad hoc legislation. The sources said that proposals to impose a 5% federal excise duty on all processed foods — including chips and biscuits — were also considered. Effectively, the 5% FED means the sales tax rate will increase to 23%, and after adding further tax and withholding taxes, the overall cost of taxation will jump to 29%. The prime minister was not in favour of doubling the federal excise duty on fertiliser and raised the issue with the IMF at the highest level. However, during last month's talks, the IMF asked the government to fulfil its commitment to increase the tax, said the sources. The sources said there was still a likelihood that the government may double the federal excise duty on fertiliser to 10% and introduce a 5% excise duty on pesticides in the budget. The sources said the prime minister was told that the budget numbers had been locked with the IMF. The FBR's annual target is likely to be Rs14.130 trillion, and the non-tax revenue target is Rs4 trillion. This brings the total tax and non-tax revenue target to Rs17.1 trillion. The federal government has been allowed to allocate Rs1.186 trillion in budget subsidies, including Rs1.036 trillion for the power sector. For IMF programme purposes, the federal development budget may be Rs873 billion, while provincial budgets are estimated at Rs2.1 trillion — about Rs700 billion less than what the four provincial governments indicated in the Annual Plan Coordination Committee meeting. The IMF has allowed all federal and provincial governments to spend Rs22 trillion on current expenditures. The total expenditures by all five governments for IMF programme purposes are estimated at Rs25 trillion for the fiscal year 2025-26.
