KARACHI: The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has expressed concerns over the non-appointment of a new chairman for the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) following the superannuation of the previous chairman, Muhammad Waseem Chaudhary, on April 5, 2023.
In a letter sent to Azam Nazeer Tarar, Federal Minister for Law & Justice, KTBA stated that as a result, the benches of the Tribunal responsible for hearing cases related to Income Tax, Sales Tax, and Federal Excise Duty have ceased to operate, causing delays and hardship to taxpayers.
The letter further stated that all the five benches in Karachi likewise countrywide have become completely dysfunctional till the appointment of its new chairman or till any further orders issued by the competent authority, due to the application of its own set of laws and rules.
It said during this period of inactivity, several appellants have faced illegal tax demands and have been unable to seek assistance from the tribunal as the staff is reportedly sitting directionless.
The Tax Appellate Tribunal, which operates in six stations across the country, is responsible for taking hundreds of appeal cases every day, the KTBA said and added that the cessation of its operations is unprecedented.
The association urged the federal minister for Law & Justice, to intervene and restore the Tribunal’s operations by issuing instructions for the restoration of benches or alternatively, by constituting special benches for hearing stay applications.
The KTBA was of the view that the delay in the appointment of a new chairman for the ATIR is causing significant harm to genuine taxpayers and requested urgent action to resolve the issue.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023