IHC Blocks Islamabad Property Tax Hike
IHC Strikes Down Property Tax Hike Notifications
ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has approved petitions challenging a recent increase in property taxes, declaring that the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) cannot enforce the hike.
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani gave the ruling while hearing petitions filed by Munir Chaudhry and Ahmed Hassan Rana. The case centered on a January 23, 2024, notification issued by the MCI, which the court noted had been challenged earlier.
On June 4, the court had already suspended the implementation of tax hike notices. During the hearing, MCI admitted that the January 23 notification was never published in the official gazette and was merely a draft.
It may be recalled that in June this year, the IHC had also restrained MCI from increasing property taxes until local government elections are held. Justice Kayani had emphasized that the corporation’s authority to make such decisions is tied to the elected local body setup.
The ruling provides temporary relief to property owners, many of whom have been protesting against what they term “heavy taxation.”
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