Pakistan Supreme Court questions petrol tax hike

Islamabad  :  Pakistan’s Supreme Court said Friday that it was not possible to implement a tax on petroleum products as parliament was yet to approve the finance bill, Geo News reported.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry made the observation was hearing a case against the recent hike in petroleum prices. The federal budget has proposed a one per cent increase in sales tax, Geo News reported.

A three-judge supreme court bench-headed by Justice Chaudhry heard the case Friday. During proceedings, the CJP remarked that the court would dismiss the notice issued by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).

He said that before the approval of finance bill by the parliament, tax could not be imposed on petroleum products.

Sources said the chief justice took the suo moto notice on the note of Supreme Court Registrar.

The hearing has been adjourned till June 18.