Court Issues Notices to KE and KMC Over Increase in Municipal Tax

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court’s constitutional bench has issued notices to K-Electric (KE) and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) on a petition challenging the increase in the municipal tax included in electricity bills.
The petition was filed by Saifuddin, Opposition Leader in the City Council from Jamaat-e-Islami, against the alleged unlawful hike in the tax.
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Usman Farooq, argued that the court had previously granted conditional approval for the tax’s implementation. He maintained that any imposition or increase in the tax requires approval from the City Council.
The lawyer further alleged that Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab increased the tax without the council’s consent, calling the move illegal. He said that the new petition was filed due to non-compliance with earlier court directives.
According to the petitioner, the court had ordered that the tax be imposed in consultation with the opposition, but the mayor allegedly enforced the municipal utility charges through electricity bills without proper consultation.
The counsel also claimed that the tax was increased by up to 150 percent without approval from the council.
The petitioner requested the court to declare the tax hike illegal. Notices have been issued to the KMC, KE, and other respondents, seeking their formal response.