The Islamabad High Court has halted the government from blocking tax filers’ mobile phones.
A hearing was held in the high court in response to a petition filed by a private mobile company against blocking tax filers’ mobile phones.
The counsel for the private mobile phone company, Salman Akram Raja advocate, argued that the recent amendment to the law,
Article 18 of the Constitution, safeguards the fundamental right to business freedom. No legislation can contradict the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
The decision to deduct 90 rupees out of 100 from tax filers’ mobile balances was challenged.
It was stated that the government cannot arbitrarily authorize the blocking of people’s mobile phones through legislative amendments.
In the event of more than five lakh mobile phones being blocked by mobile phone companies annually, there would be an annual loss of 100 crore rupees.
Chief Justice Aamir Farooq issued a stay order until May 27 in response to the private mobile company’s petition.
The court has also issued notices to the Federal Board of Revenue and other parties, seeking their response.
It was clarified that in accordance with the government’s directives, companies have so far blocked over eleven thousand tax filers’ mobile phones, while messages have been sent to fifteen thousand tax filers warning them of potential blocking.
It is stated that if tax filers’ mobiles are not blocked by May 15, action will be taken against those companies.
