The government is likely to establish three benches to hear cases of Benami transactions under Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act 2017, sources close to the Prime Minister's Advisor on Finance and Revenue told Business Recorder.
Giving the background, the sources said, the federal government has established Anti-Benami Zones at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and appointed the first adjudicating authority for implementation the Benami Transaction Act, 2017 under notification of June 29, 2019.
Under section 7 of the said Act, the jurisdiction of adjudicating authority may be exercised by benches thereof, to be constituted by the chairperson of the benches of the adjudicating authority who shall sit at such places as the federal government may in consultation with the Chairperson and by notification in the official gazette specify.
Moreover, the federal government shall, by notification in the official gazette, specify the areas of relation to which each bench of the adjudicating authority may exercise jurisdiction.
In terms of section 7 (c) & (d) of Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act, 2017 the Chairperson, adjudicating authority, has suggested the following benches and seating place for each bench to exercise jurisdiction in respective area under the provisions of the Benami Transaction (Prohibition) Act, 2017.
According to the proposal, the bench-1 (Islamabad) will adjudicate Benami transactions/cases of KP, Islamabad capital territory and Rawalpindi, bench-II will adjudicate Benami transactions/cases of Punjab except Civil Division of Rawalpindi and bench-III will adjudicate Benami transactions/cases of Sindh and Balochistan.