ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice (CJ) Mian Saqib Nisar has on Friday said that only the parliament has the authority to decide the imposition or exemption of tax on commodities.
However, he said that 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 urged that the pharmaceutical industry should be rendered tax-free as it already paid around Rs 25 billion in taxes causing an increase in medicine prices.
In response, Justice Nisar remarked 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.