Karachi: The Sindh High Court has issued a notice to Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab regarding a contempt of court petition related to the collection of municipal taxes in electricity bills.
The hearing took place before a two-member bench led by Justice Arshad Hussain Khan.
The petition was filed against Murtaza Wahab for contempt of court concerning the collection of municipal taxes through electricity bills.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s lawyer, Usman Farooq Advocate, argued that Murtaza Wahab violated the court’s orders dated May 29, 2024.
According to the court’s instructions, a detailed discussion on utility tax collection through electricity was required.
However, the Karachi Mayor did not brief committees on this matter nor provided an opportunity for debate in the assembly.
The lawyer requested that a resolution for utility tax collection be approved under the supplementary agenda in the KMC assembly.
It was noted that Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI members were not consulted. According to the court’s order, consumers using 300 units should have been exempt from MUCT charges, but only those using 200 units were exempt. A stay order was requested regarding the implementation of MUCT tax.
The court remarked that a stay order could not be issued without hearing the other party. Usman Farooq Advocate requested a brief date to avoid harm to the people of Karachi.
The court issued a notice to Mayor Murtaza Wahab and requested a response by August 7.