The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday sought reply from the Punjab chief secretary on a petition challenging holding of 18 portfolios by the chief minister.
Justice Umar Ata Bandial directed the chief secretary to file the reply with in three weeks. The petition, filed by Noshab A Khan advocate, made the Punjab chief minister, the principal secretary to the CM and the chief secretary party in the case.
He stated that chief minister was holding portfolios of 18 ministries, including the health ministry, in violation of the Punjab Government Rules of Business 1974. He contended that the chief minister, as head of the cabinet, could not perform the work of ministers because he had only responsibility of coordination of the all the policy matters and chairing meetings of the cabinet minister.
The petitioner held the chief minister responsible for failure of the health ministry in coping with menace of specious drugs reaction in which more than 100 patients had expired. He said the government had failed even to control dengue epidemic, requesting the court to order the CM to quit the charge of the ministries and give away portfolios to ministers as defined by the law.
Secy summoned: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday sought personal appearance of Punjab Secretary Transport Muhammad Yousaf on a contempt petition. Justice Muhammad Khalid Mehmood Khan issued the orders on a contempt petition filed by Riffat Nazir who pleaded that her husband was employee of department but after his death, the administration was not releasing his pension and other emoluments of last eight years despite orders of the LHC and the services tribunal.
She requested the court to initiate contempt proceedings against respondents, including the secretary transport. After hearing initial arguments, the judge ordered the secretary transport to appear before the court on February 06.
Inquiry report: Report of the inquiry commission formed to fix responsibility for the deaths during the 37 days long doctors strike will be presented in the court of the Lahore High Court Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed by the Punjab government on Thursday (today).
According to a press release on Wednesday, journalist Manzoor Qadir, through his lawyer Gul Zaman, had filed a writ petition, praying to the court that the Punjab government was neither making the report public and nor was it taking action on the report while it was trying to cover up things. They had prayed to the court to get the findings of the report of the judicial commission implemented.
sales tax: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday disposed of a plea, challenging recovery of sales tax from restaurants. The court ordered Inland Revenue Department and the chief commissioner RTO to decide the matter within one month.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan was hearing the petition filed by a local restaurant owner, Muhammad Ishaq, impleading the federal law secretary, federal board of revenue and others. The petitioner submitted that he was running a restaurant and it was registered with Inland Revenue Department, Lahore.
He contended that the restaurant business fell within scope and domain of service whereas federal legislative list and constitution did not grant authority for any levy, charge or payment of sales tax on rendering services.
He submitted that the respondent officers of revenue department illegally initiated proceedings against him for recovery of sales tax. He said that an officer of Inland Revenue Department had been deputed on his business premises.
The petitioner also pointed out that the Punjab government was also collecting illegally sales tax under Punjab Sales Tax Ordinance 2000 whereas services were exempted in the Ordinance.
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