Court Should Not Interfere in Economic Policies, Argues FBR Counsel

Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court has issued notices to all parties in a case concerning the ban on the export of goods to India and Israel.

During the hearing, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) counsel Hafiz Ehsan Khokhar argued that the high court’s order violated the constitutional principle of separation of powers. He maintained that it was not the role of the courts to alter government policies or interfere in economic matters.

The FBR lawyer further contended that the case also involved issues related to foreign relations and national security. He said the high court could not issue directives without first declaring the relevant Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) unlawful.

After hearing the arguments, the Federal Constitutional Court issued notices to the concerned parties and adjourned the hearing until January 13.

It is pertinent to note that in 2019, the government had issued a notification imposing a ban on the export of goods to India and Israel. The ban was subsequently challenged by various parties before the Lahore High Court.

The Lahore High Court had directed the formation of a committee to review the matter and ordered a reassessment of the ban.