The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday restrained the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) from recovering Rs 700 million in taxes from Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Minhajul Quran organisation.
Justice Amir Mahmood issued the order on a petition filed by Minhajul Quran in which the outfit claimed that it was not liable to pay taxes because it is a registered charity, and that the FBR notices issued to it were based on mala fide and ill intent of the government.
Admitting the petition, the LHC also directed the FBR not to issue any further notices to the Minhajul Quran regarding tax payment.
Earlier, FBR in its investigations had ascertained that Qadri and Minhajul Quran held at least eight bank accounts which had some Rs 700 million rupees flowing in from different sources. The FBR sent Qadri and Minhajul Quran three notices in this regard but neither the PAT chief nor his institution had responded.
On August 7, the FBR had again issued a notice to Qadri and Minhajul Quran, saying they have to pay tax under the Income Tax Ordinance.
