The Lahore High Court has disposed of a petition filed by the sugar mills of PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif against the tax audit by the Federal Board of Revenue directing the latter to resort to the concerned inland revenue tribunal, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Lahore High Court headed by Justice Jawad Hassan heard the petition on Monday on an urgent basis. The petition was submitted by PML-N President Shahbaz’s sugar mills against the tax audit notice sent to the sugar mills by the revenue board.

Justice Jawad while hearing the case remarked that how the sugar mills could bring the case to the high court without first going to the concerned inland revenue tribunal. He asked the petitioner to take its case to the concerned tribunal.

The petition had made FBR chairman and inland revenue commissioner as respondents.

Shehbaz’s sugar mills on Saturday challenged the decision of the FBR regarding its audit notice to the mills in the LHC.

Reportedly, the FBR had sent a show-cause notice of conducting a tax audit of the sugar mills on May 21. The revenue board demanded an explanation of the transaction of Rs1.93 billion. However, the commissioner inland revenue withdrew the notice on May 21.

The petition filed by the sugar mills in the LHC stated that the audit notice sent by the deputy commissioner was mala fide and sending show-cause notice again was a violation of the ordinance.

The FIA has summoned PML-N President and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif on June 22 for questioning regarding the sugar scandal.

According to the FIA call-up notice, they had credible evidence of over Rs25 billion fraud case.

It may be mentioned here that the FIA had sent a questionnaire to the PML-N president earlier on December 18 last. Shehbaz Sharif had then said that he would submit his response after consulting his legal team.

Ittefaq and Kashmir Sugar Mills’ case put off till July29 

In another case, the Bank Crime Court, Punjab has adjourned the hearing of a case against Ittefaq Sugar Mills and Kashmir Sugar Mills till July 29.

The Bank Crime Court on Monday was hearing a case against Ittefaq Sugar Mills and Kashmir Sugar Mills regarding their non-payment of millions of rupees to the Summit Bank.

PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s cousins: Zahid Shafi, Mian Shafi, Mian Tariq, Ijaz Shafi, lawyers of 10 accused and bank lawyers appeared before the court.

The next date of hearing was given due to non-availability of the judge and spare room.

The court has been informed that the Lahore High Court had issued a stay order in this case.

Reporter Shaheen Attique