ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice (CJ) Mian Saqib Nisar has on Friday sai
d that only the parliament has the authority to decide the imposition or exemption of tax on comm
odities.
However, he said t
hat before his retirement he would try to give as much relief to the people.
He was hearing the case against the prices of medicine heading a two-member bench, where he was presented an interim report on prices of medicine by the Secretary Health. The court has demanded a full report by the first week of May.
The applicant urge
d that the pharmaceutical industry s
hould be rendered tax-free as it already pai
d around Rs 25 billion in taxes causing an increase in medicine prices.
In response, Justice Nisar remarke
d that the right of this decision was with the Parliament and the court could only decide on the existing laws.
The hearing was adjourned till May 15.
