2024 PLP 1360 (PTD)
IBRAHIM FIBRES LIMITED through Company Secretary Versus PROVINCE OF SINDH through Chief Secretary and 2 others
| Citation | 2024 PLP 1360 (PTD) |
| Forum / Court | Sindh High Court |
| Bench Members | Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar and Agha Faisal, JJ |
| Parties | IBRAHIM FIBRES LIMITED through Company Secretary Versus PROVINCE OF SINDH through Chief Secretary and 2 others |
| Primary Law | (b) Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act (XVIII of 2017), 8. The Province of Sindh as well as the litigants being aggrieved preferred Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The litigants impugned the judgment to the extent of the findings in relation to the fifth version, whereas, the Province impugned the same to the extent of the judgment in respect of the first four versions. On 17.05.2011 the Counsel for the Province of Sindh withdrew the Appeals on the ground that he has been instructed by the Government of Sindh not to press these Appeals as subsequent amendments have been made which are retrospectively applicable, and therefore, the entire case of the Government of Sindh would be dependent upon the result of the Appeals of the private persons. The said order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 17.05.2011 reads as under:, As observed earlier, "Octroi" has been defined in the 1964 Octroi Rules as a tax on the "import" of goods for consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits, and "import" has been defined as import within the Octroi' limits, therefore, does not attract Octroi but the import within the Octro' limits must also be coupled with the purpose of consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits. Unless Octroi is equated with customs duty, do not see how such tax falls within the items of Federal Legislative Lists of the two Constitutions of 1972 and 1973 pointed out by the learned counsel. We say so as by Item No. 47 of the Provincial List of the Fourth Schedule to the Interim-Constitution, framers of that constitution specifically and with clarity included Octroi within the Provincial Legislative field. Item 47 reads as follows; |
Q1: What are the key laws and sections cited in 2024 PLP 1360 (PTD)?
This judgment primarily cites: (b) Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act (XVIII of 2017), 8. The Province of Sindh as well as the litigants being aggrieved preferred Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The litigants impugned the judgment to the extent of the findings in relation to the fifth version, whereas, the Province impugned the same to the extent of the judgment in respect of the first four versions. On 17.05.2011 the Counsel for the Province of Sindh withdrew the Appeals on the ground that he has been instructed by the Government of Sindh not to press these Appeals as subsequent amendments have been made which are retrospectively applicable, and therefore, the entire case of the Government of Sindh would be dependent upon the result of the Appeals of the private persons. The said order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 17.05.2011 reads as under:, As observed earlier, "Octroi" has been defined in the 1964 Octroi Rules as a tax on the "import" of goods for consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits, and "import" has been defined as import within the Octroi' limits, therefore, does not attract Octroi but the import within the Octro' limits must also be coupled with the purpose of consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits. Unless Octroi is equated with customs duty, do not see how such tax falls within the items of Federal Legislative Lists of the two Constitutions of 1972 and 1973 pointed out by the learned counsel. We say so as by Item No. 47 of the Provincial List of the Fourth Schedule to the Interim-Constitution, framers of that constitution specifically and with clarity included Octroi within the Provincial Legislative field. Item 47 reads as follows;, "Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry, C.J.- Mr. Fakhar-ud-Din G. Ibrahim, learned Sr. ASC states that he has been instructed by the Government of Sindh not to press the above listed appeals. Further that the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 ratified into the Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007), was further amended by the Sindh Finance Act, 2009 to make the same retrospectively applicable. And therefore the entire case of Government of Sindh would depend upon the result of the appeals of the private persons arising out of the impugned judgment wherein following operative para of the judgment has been challenged:, (c) Constitution of Pakistan, 2. Definition.--- In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context, (a) Interpretation of statutes, 9. Similarly, insofar as the Appeals filed by the private parties were concerned, though they were argued on certain dates; however, on 20.05.2011 pursuant to a joint statement filed by the respective Counsel for the contesting parties the said Appeals were also disposed of in the following terms:, It is hereby enacted as follows:, 15. Finally, the seventh version of the law was introduced through Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act, 2017 and the relevant provisions read as under: as referenced in Pakistani case law index.
Q2: Which judicial bench decided the case 2024 PLP 1360 (PTD)?
The case was heard and decided by the Sindh High Court bench comprising: Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar and Agha Faisal, JJ.
Q3: What is the official citation format for this judgment on Pakistan Law Portal?
Cite this legal precedent as: 2024 PLP 1360 (PTD) (IBRAHIM FIBRES LIMITED through Company Secretary Versus PROVINCE OF SINDH through Chief Secretary and 2 others). Read the full summary and cross-referenced laws free on Pakistan Law Portal.
Laws Cited
Representation
- Makhdoom Ali Khan, Hyder Ali Khan, Hussain Ali Almani, Fahad Khan, Rashid Anwar, Ahmed Hussain, Ameen M. Bandukda, Samiur Rehman Khan, Shaheer Roshan Shaikh, Navin Merchant along with Salman Yousuf, Faiz Durrani, Samia Faiz Durrani, Ghulam Muhammad, Muhammad Faheem, Umer Akhund, Sofia Saeed Shah, Aijaz Ali, Sobia Mehak, Ghulam Hussain Shah, Muhammad Adeel Awan, Shahan Karimi, Jehanzeb Awan, Karim Abbasi, S. Zeshan Ali, Imran Iqbal Khan, Rafiq Ahmed Kalwar, Nadir Hussain Abro, Rashid Mahar, Shafqat Zaman, Abdul Ahad Nadeem, Zahid Abbas, Yousuf Moulvi alongwith Rafia Murtaza, Taimur A. Mirza, Muhammad Arshad Mehmood, Aijaz Ahmed Zahid, Dr. Muhammad Khalid Hayat, Muhammad Irshad, Wajid Wyne, Shfaqat Zaman, Hamza Waleed, Rashid Mahar, Arshad Shahzad, Naeem Suleman, Asif Ali, Ahmed Hussain, Jawaid Farooqui, Imran Ali Abro, Zubair Ahmed Abro, Adnan Ahmed Zafar, Ajeet Sundar, Waqar Ahmed, Muhammad Adnan Moton, Khalid Mehmood Siddiqui, Barrister Usman Waleed, Muhammad Inzimam Sharif and Salman Aziz for Petitioners.
- Farooq H. Naek, along with, Zulfiqar Arain, S. Qaim A. Shah, representing Excise and Taxation Dept. Salman Talibuddin, Advocate General Sindh assisted by Abdullah Abid, Advocate, Jawed Dero Additional Advocate General, Saifullah Assist. Advocate General, Khalid Rajpar, Shahid Ali Qureshi, Mohsin Imam Wasti, Muhammad Zubair, Irfan Mir Halepota, Imran Ali Mithani, Muhabbat Hussain Awan, Muhammad Rashid Arfi Okash Mustafa for Muhammad Bilal Bhatti Advocates for Customs Department for Respondents.
- Dates of hearing: 26th October, 5th November, 2020, 25th January, 15th April and 28th May, 2021.
- 3. Mr. Farooq H. Naek Advocate appearing on behalf of Excise and Taxation Department due to his illness has not been able to argue in person; but has filed written arguments, copies of which were also supplied to the Petitioner's Counsel. According to him, the Petitions are not maintainable as the Petitioners have not challenged the vires of law in question as being violative of any provision of the Constitution; that the Province of Sindh has the prerogative to levy tax, duty, fee and cess for the benefit of its infrastructure which is within the legislative competence of the Province and neither it is violative of any rights guaranteed under the Constitution; nor transgresses the limitation imposed by Article 155 of the Constitution; that even otherwise, the bar as contained in Article 151 ibid is also not attracted as imposition of tax in itself is not a restriction on freedom of trade and commerce between the Provinces, whereas, the impugned levy is for the betterment of the infrastructure of the Province as a whole and would contribute to the efficiency of trade and commerce; that the subject of impugned legislation (all versions) is not covered or hit by any item either in the Federal or in the Concurrent Legislative List; that the Provincial legislature enjoys exclusive legislative authority on the subject matter in terms of Article 142 (c) of the Constitution; that it is neither a customs duty which is levied by the Federation under entry 43 of Part 1 of the Federal Legislative List; nor the levy in question is a tax on import or export and in fact it is a levy on imported goods which are being transported within the country by road using infrastructure of the Province; that reliance on entry No. 24 of the Federal Legislative List is misconceived as it is about carriage of goods by sea or air, and does not include carriage of goods by road; hence, levy of infrastructure cess on carriage of goods by road is a Provincial subject and within the competence of the Provincial legislature; that notwithstanding the judgments of this Court in respect of earlier versions, subsequently, the law has been amended and lastly through Sindh Finance Act, 2009 and the 2017 Act, which has given retrospective effect to all such amendments; hence, the defect, if any, also stands cured; that levy of this cess is not discriminatory as it is charged on standard basis pursuant to a Schedule annexed with the Act and is applicable on a certain class i.e. importers and exporters. He has sought support from various reported cases7.
- 4. Learned Advocate General on Court notice issued in terms of Order 27A of the Civil Procedure Code has argued that judgment of the Appellate Court in Sanofi Aventis8 to the extent of first four versions of law is no more in field after promulgation of subsequent Ordinances and Act retrospectively, and as a consequence thereof, the judgment in Quetta Textile9 is still in field through which the impugned law / levy was held to be intra vires, whereas, Entry 24 of the Federal Legislative List does not cover the word "Road"; hence, the Province is competent to legislate on this subject.
- 5. We have heard all the learned Counsel as well as learned Advocate General Sindh and have perused the record. It appears that the impugned levy was introduced for the first time by the Province of Sindh in the year 1994 through Sections 9 and 10 of the Sindh Finance Act, 1994 which came into effect from 01.07.1994 (first version)10 and pursuant to this Act on 22.08.1994 Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Fee Rules, 1994 were notified, which provided the rates11, quantification, assessment, appeal and revision. Subsequently, through Section 5 of the Sindh Finance Act, 1996, Section 9 of the 1994 Act was substituted (second version)12.
- 6. The above levy was then challenged by a number of aggrieved parties through Constitutional Petitions as well as Civil Suits. A learned Single Judge of this Court in the case reported as H. A. Rahim (Pvt.) Ltd. (supra) was pleased to decree the Suits by declaring the infrastructure fee as unconstitutional and ultra vires. The said judgment was then impugned through a time barred High Court Appeal No. 33/2001 by the Province of Sindh and during its pendency Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 dated 24.02.2001 was promulgated and an attempt was made to annul the judgment of the learned Single Judge by changing the nomenclature of the impugned levy from infrastructure fee to infrastructure cess with addition of a revalidation clause. The pending Petitions were then dismissed as infructuous in view of promulgation of the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (third version) as above, by permitting the aggrieved parties to challenge or impugn the validity of the same by filing fresh cases. Insofar as High Court Appeal No. 33/2001 was concerned, the delay in filing of the same was though condoned; but the Advocate General filed a statement to the effect that in view of Amendment Ordinance, 2001 his Appeal has become infructuous and he no longer wishes to press the same. On such statement, the Appeal was disposed of. Thereafter, in this backdrop various Suits were filed in this Court on the Original Side challenging the vires of Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 200113. Thereafter when these Suits were pending, fourth version of the law was introduced through Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 on 15.05.2001 which was made effective retrospectively from 24.02.2001 through which various amendments were made in the Sindh Finance Act, 199414.
- 10. Insofar as the case of the present Petitioners is concerned, it has been argued that since the Government of Sindh had withdrawn its Appeals and the said withdrawal was dependent upon the outcome of the Appeals filed by the private parties which were then disposed of through a joint statement which was only to the extent of the fourth version (only the legislative competence) and the fifth version; therefore, insofar as the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis is concerned, the same is now a case of past and closed transaction, whereby, the first four versions of the impugned levy were struck down. On the other hand, the case of Province of Sindh is that since the subsequent Amending Ordinance i.e. Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, (No. XXXVIII of 2006), re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finance Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007) and Sindh Finance Act, 2009 were made applicable retrospectively, whereas, a revalidation clause was also promulgated; therefore, the effect of the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis is no more in field. On perusal of the record and the orders passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the respective Appeals of the parties, we are of the considered view that the stance of the present Petitioners appears to be correct to a certain extent. It is to be noted that it was the Province of Sindh which first withdrew its Appeals, and the said order very clearly reflects that it is being done on the instructions of the Government of Sindh i.e. not to press the Appeals. It has been recorded that the entire case of the Government of Sindh would be dependent upon the result of the Appeals of the private persons, whereas, despite a statement of their Counsel regarding enactment of subsequent legislation retrospectively, the final order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is only a simplicitor withdrawal of the Appeals filed by the Province. It was observed that in view of above prayer of the learned Senior Advocate appearing for the Government of Sindh the Appeals are dismissed as not pressed. It has neither remanded the matter nor has asked the Appellate Court to decide it afresh after examining the Re-validation clause and retrospective effect of the enactments as contended by their Counsel. Admittedly the private parties had only challenged the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fourth version in respect of legislative competence, and the entire fifth version of the law. On the other hand, the Appeals of the aggrieved parties were disposed of on the basis of a joint statement which was only in respect of the fourth version (partly) and the fifth version of the law. In our considered view, the entire case of the Province to the extent of their Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court was (i) that it withdrew its Appeals merely on the ground that subsequent legislation had been made or enacted, and that satisfies them to withdraw their Appeals; and (ii) it was also dependent on the outcome of the Appeals of the private persons. When the two orders as above are read in juxtaposition to arrive at a fair conclusion, it appears that insofar as the subsequent Amending Ordinance of 2006, The 2007 Act and the 2009 Act, and its retrospective applicability is concerned, it was never touched upon by the Hon'ble Supreme Court; nor was it remanded to the Appellate Court for any adjudication. It was just merely a statement of the learned Advocate for the Province of Sindh; but in effect, there was no conclusive finding by the Hon'ble Supreme Court that as to what would be the effect of these Amending Ordinance / Act through which the same were purportedly made applicable retrospectively. The aggrieved party was left to challenge it (i.e. the fifth version or any other version) and naturally they would only challenge what is against them. At that point of time it was only the fifth version which they could have challenged and not the first four versions in respect of which Sanofi Aventis had decided it in their favor (barring the legislative competence in respect of the fourth version). Similarly, when the joint statement filed in the Appeals of the private parties is examined, it appears to be filed by consent and it clearly reflects that it was only to the effect of setting aside the impugned judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fourth version in respect of its legislative competence and the fifth version. And this arrangement was apparently arrived at because before the High Court the fifth version was permitted to be impugned on a verbal concession of the Counsel then appearing for the Province of Sindh without a formal amendment of the pleadings. It was also observed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the order date 20.5.2011 that these proceedings had arisen out of a civil suit instituted by the appellants wherein the first, second, third and fourth version of the law mentioned hereinabove were challenged, but so far the fifth version is concerned, it was promulgated when the Appeals before the High Court were pending, therefore, it had become necessary to amend the pleadings and challenge the same because of a number of differences in the earlier versions and re-enactment through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007). It was further observed that had the matter arisen between the parties out of petition under Article 199 or any other relevant provisions, perhaps, the High Court may have allowed the parties to argue their case as to the developments which took place during pendency of the lis, but when there was a suit on the basis of pleadings, in our considered opinion amendment of the pleadings was necessary and if any concessional statement on the issue was given by the learned counsel for the respondents the same was not admissible under the law. It appears that on this observation, the parties filed a joint statement for disposal of the said set of Appeals. Even otherwise, after withdrawal of the Appeals filed by the Government of Sindh it could not be presumed that the private parties would agree for setting aside of the entire judgment even to the extent of the first four versions which was in their favour. Therefore, in our considered view and insofar as the present position is concerned, the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the first four versions of the impugned levy has attained finality and for the present purposes we are not required to examine the validity of these four versions any further, on the ground that thereafter an Amending Ordinance in 2006 and the 2009 Act had been promulgated. It could have only been done in the pending Appeals if the Province of Sindh had not withdrawn their appeals simplicitor; and if it had sought a disposal order by remanding the matter to the Appellate Court on this touchstone that the subsequent Amending Ordinances / Act, have been given effect retrospectively and had also in effect nullified the impugned judgment; the Appeals be heard afresh. This was never their case. In fact, the court in Sanofi Aventis while considering the effect of Amendment Ordinance, 2006, had clearly observed that the fifth version was prospective in nature as it was effective from the date of its promulgation. Though at that point of time Sindh Finance Act, 2007 (Sindh Act No. II of 2007) had also been passed through which it was given effect from 28.3.2007 and had also repealed Amendment Ordinance, 2006; however, it was not considered by the learned Bench in the case of Sanofi Aventis. Moreover, it was only in the sixth version in 2009 that it was given effect from the date of introduction of the levy through Sindh Finance Act, 1994 i.e. 1.7.1994.
Headnotes / Summary
Effect of judgment rendered by competent Court of law declaring any provision of law as ultra vires or declaring levy of a tax as illegal can be undone
This can only be done if grounds of illegality or invalidity are capable of being removed and are in fact removed.
S. 3
Sindh Finance Act (XXIV of 2017), S. 1 (3)
Constitution of Pakistan, Arts. 142(c) & 199
Sindh Finance Act (XIII of 1994)
Sindh Finance Act (XV of 1996)
Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance (IX of 2001)
Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance (XVI of 2001)
Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act (II of 2007)
Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act (III of 2009)
Constitutional petition
Vires of Infrastructure fee / Cess
Provincial Legislature, competence of
Principle
Petitioners / importers assailed levy known as Infrastructure Fee / Cess imposed by Provincial Government Sindh through Sindh Finance Act, 1994 and its subsequent versions
Levy in question was demanded and collected before release of goods from Customs jurisdiction either at sea port or airports
Plea raised by petitioners / importers was that such levy was ultra vires to the Constitution and beyond the competence of Provincial Legislature
Levy in question was neither a tax nor fee on import and export of goods though it was levied and collected in the same manner as the Customs duty under the Customs Act, 1969, including that on ad-valorem basis
Merely by providing a mechanism of collection of levy in question, it did not ipso-facto become a customs duty, falling within the domain of Federal Legislature
Levy in its existing form was a cess for maintenance and development of infrastructure on goods upon entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement in the Province
Levy in question was only applicable and challenged upon goods entering the Province from outside the country and as for the remaining it had been exempted
High Court declared that first four versions of law introduced through Sindh Finance Act, 1994, amended through Sindh Finance Act, 1996, Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, and Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 had attained finality and was past and closed transaction
High Court further declared that notwithstanding promulgation of fifth version of levy in question vide Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, further amended by Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2007 and Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2009, Sindh Finance Act, 2017, promulgated retrospectively with effect from 1-7-1994 was a valid law within the competence of Provincial Legislature under the Constitution and was applicable retrospectively
All imposition and collection of levy in question with effect from 01-07-1994 pursuant to S. 1(3) of Sindh Finance Act, 2017, were retrospective in effect and were validly done and collected
All Bank Guarantees furnished by petitioners up to 27-12-2006 who had litigated earlier and were appellants in Sanofi Aventis case reported as PLD 2009 Karachi 69 stood discharged whereas bank guarantees furnished by them on or after 28-12-2006 would be en-cashed and paid to authorities
Guarantees furnished by rest of the petitioners not covered as appellants in Sanofi Aventis case reported as PLD 2009 Karachi 69 would be en-cashed and paid to authorities
Constitutional petition was disposed of accordingly. PLD 2009 Kar. 69 ref.
Fourth Sched. Legislative entries
Conflict
Principle
When an issue arises as to interpreting apparent conflicting legislative entries when there are distinct entries for Federal and Provincial Legislatures, even in that situation it is not that the Court would always arrive at a conclusion that either of them has the competency to do so
In such situation controversies do arise as to the competency and as to who is exceeding its own domain and encroaching upon the others
In such case it is not the name of the tax; but its real nature i.e. the "pith and substance" that determines into what category or in whose domain such legislation would fall. Governor General in Council v. Madras 1945 FCR 179 rel. JUDGMENT MUHAMMAD JUNAID GHAFAR, J.
This Petition along with Petitions as mentioned in Annexure "A" to this Judgment involve an identical legal issue and are therefore, being decided through this common Judgment. The Petitioners have impugned a levy known as Infrastructure fee / Cess imposed by the Province of Sindh through Sindh Finance Act, 1994 and its subsequent versions including the final version i.e. Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act, 2017, on the ground that it is ultra vires to the Constitution and beyond the competence of the Provincial Legislature. All Petitioners before us are Importers of various goods and are aggrieved with the impugned levy being demanded and collected on such goods before their release from the Customs jurisdiction either at Sea Port(s) or Airport.
2. Learned Counsel for the Petitioners1 have contended that the impugned levy is beyond the legislative competence of the Provincial legislature as it has no authority under the Constitution to levy a fee or cess on imports and exports into the Province from or for outside the country; that in all (7) seven versions of the law, the instance of the impugned levy is on goods entering or leaving the Province from or for outside the country through Air or Sea, whereas, after three versions while enacting the fourth version, the law was changed by insertion of additional purpose of the levy through insertion of words, "the smooth and safer movement of goods", however, it still remains a levy on the import and export of goods which falls within the legislative competence of the Federal Legislature; that the nature and character of the impugned levy is to be determined on the basis of the taxable event which in the instant matter is the import and export of the goods into the and out of the Province from outside the country; that this taxable event is directly covered through Entries 24,2 27,3 and 434 of the Federal Legislative List under the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution; hence, the Province does not have any authority to impose this levy; that in accordance with the Article 142 of the Constitution, it is only the Federation which has the exclusive legislative competence in respect of the matters enumerated in these Entries; that Customs Duties have been levied through the Customs Act, 1969 on the import and export of the goods into and outside the country; hence, the impugned levy is beyond the competence of the Provincial legislature as it amounts to encroaching upon the legislative competence of the Federation; that it is settled law that entries in the legislative list are to be construed in a widest possible manner and not in a narrow, restricted or pedantic manner; that the Province of Baluchistan had also imposed a similar Infra-structure Cess through Baluchistan Infrastructure Development Cess Act, 2019 which has been declared ultra vires5; that the impugned levy is nothing but a Customs duty which is confirmed by way and in the manner, in which it has been levied and is calculated i.e. on the value of goods as assessed by the Customs Authorities; that insertion of additional levy of 1 paisa per kilometer through subsequent versions is irrelevant and is an attempt to cure an unconstitutional imposition of the levy; that it is a colorable exercise of legislation and impinges upon the powers of the Federation; that it is settled law that measure of levy imposed has a nexus with the nature of levy; that even otherwise, the impugned levy discriminates between locally manufactured goods as against the Petitioners imported and exported goods; that as to various attempts of re-validating the earlier versions, it is settled law that such an attempt cannot nullify the judgments of this Court without removing the defects in law pointed out by the Court in its earlier judgments; that the subsequent Acts / Ordinances do not remove any of the defects pointed out by this Hon'ble Court including that the cess is still imposed on the import and export of the goods; that it is still calculated primarily on the value of the goods which has no nexus with the nature and character of the levy; that even if it is assumed that this cess was a fee, no services are being provided in return; that the subsequent amendments including the 2017 Act, cannot be given retrospective effect as the charging section does not provides for any such effect; that without prejudice, as to the first four versions of law, it is a matter of past and closed transaction which cannot be reopened as this Court has already declared the first four versions of the impugned levy as ultra vires against which the Appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court stands withdrawn, and therefore, to that extent the demand of the impugned levy on the basis of the first four versions of the law is illegal and beyond the power and authority of the Province. They have relied upon numerous reported cases6 in support of their plea.
3. Mr. Farooq H. Naek Advocate appearing on behalf of Excise and Taxation Department due to his illness has not been able to argue in person; but has filed written arguments, copies of which were also supplied to the Petitioner's Counsel. According to him, the Petitions are not maintainable as the Petitioners have not challenged the vires of law in question as being violative of any provision of the Constitution; that the Province of Sindh has the prerogative to levy tax, duty, fee and cess for the benefit of its infrastructure which is within the legislative competence of the Province and neither it is violative of any rights guaranteed under the Constitution; nor transgresses the limitation imposed by Article 155 of the Constitution; that even otherwise, the bar as contained in Article 151 ibid is also not attracted as imposition of tax in itself is not a restriction on freedom of trade and commerce between the Provinces, whereas, the impugned levy is for the betterment of the infrastructure of the Province as a whole and would contribute to the efficiency of trade and commerce; that the subject of impugned legislation (all versions) is not covered or hit by any item either in the Federal or in the Concurrent Legislative List; that the Provincial legislature enjoys exclusive legislative authority on the subject matter in terms of Article 142 (c) of the Constitution; that it is neither a customs duty which is levied by the Federation under entry 43 of Part 1 of the Federal Legislative List; nor the levy in question is a tax on import or export and in fact it is a levy on imported goods which are being transported within the country by road using infrastructure of the Province; that reliance on entry No. 24 of the Federal Legislative List is misconceived as it is about carriage of goods by sea or air, and does not include carriage of goods by road; hence, levy of infrastructure cess on carriage of goods by road is a Provincial subject and within the competence of the Provincial legislature; that notwithstanding the judgments of this Court in respect of earlier versions, subsequently, the law has been amended and lastly through Sindh Finance Act, 2009 and the 2017 Act, which has given retrospective effect to all such amendments; hence, the defect, if any, also stands cured; that levy of this cess is not discriminatory as it is charged on standard basis pursuant to a Schedule annexed with the Act and is applicable on a certain class i.e. importers and exporters. He has sought support from various reported cases7.
4. Learned Advocate General on Court notice issued in terms of Order 27A of the Civil Procedure Code has argued that judgment of the Appellate Court in Sanofi Aventis8 to the extent of first four versions of law is no more in field after promulgation of subsequent Ordinances and Act retrospectively, and as a consequence thereof, the judgment in Quetta Textile9 is still in field through which the impugned law / levy was held to be intra vires, whereas, Entry 24 of the Federal Legislative List does not cover the word "Road"; hence, the Province is competent to legislate on this subject.
5. We have heard all the learned Counsel as well as learned Advocate General Sindh and have perused the record. It appears that the impugned levy was introduced for the first time by the Province of Sindh in the year 1994 through Sections 9 and 10 of the Sindh Finance Act, 1994 which came into effect from 01.07.1994 (first version)10 and pursuant to this Act on 22.08.1994 Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Fee Rules, 1994 were notified, which provided the rates11, quantification, assessment, appeal and revision. Subsequently, through Section 5 of the Sindh Finance Act, 1996, Section 9 of the 1994 Act was substituted (second version)12.
6. The above levy was then challenged by a number of aggrieved parties through Constitutional Petitions as well as Civil Suits. A learned Single Judge of this Court in the case reported as H. A. Rahim (Pvt.) Ltd. (supra) was pleased to decree the Suits by declaring the infrastructure fee as unconstitutional and ultra vires. The said judgment was then impugned through a time barred High Court Appeal No. 33/2001 by the Province of Sindh and during its pendency Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 dated 24.02.2001 was promulgated and an attempt was made to annul the judgment of the learned Single Judge by changing the nomenclature of the impugned levy from infrastructure fee to infrastructure cess with addition of a revalidation clause. The pending Petitions were then dismissed as infructuous in view of promulgation of the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (third version) as above, by permitting the aggrieved parties to challenge or impugn the validity of the same by filing fresh cases. Insofar as High Court Appeal No. 33/2001 was concerned, the delay in filing of the same was though condoned; but the Advocate General filed a statement to the effect that in view of Amendment Ordinance, 2001 his Appeal has become infructuous and he no longer wishes to press the same. On such statement, the Appeal was disposed of. Thereafter, in this backdrop various Suits were filed in this Court on the Original Side challenging the vires of Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 200113. Thereafter when these Suits were pending, fourth version of the law was introduced through Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 on 15.05.2001 which was made effective retrospectively from 24.02.2001 through which various amendments were made in the Sindh Finance Act, 199414.
7. At this point of time, there were in effect four versions of the impugned levy / law which were in field and the pending Suits were then heard and decided by a learned Single Judge of this Court whereby, all the Suits were dismissed in the case of Quetta Textile (Supra). The said judgment was impugned by way of High Court Appeals and a learned Division Bench of this Court in Sanofi Aventis (Supra) decided the Appeals in favour of the litigants to the extent that the first three versions of the law were in fact an imposition on the import and export and for that the Province of Sindh had no authority or jurisdiction; hence, it was ultra vires and unconstitutional. It was further held that insofar as the fourth version is concerned, it had no nexus with the nature and character of the levy and was also struck down; however, during pendency of the Appeals, a fifth version was also promulgated by way of Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance 200615 on 29.12.2006 and notwithstanding that it was never under challenge, either in the original Suits (in fact it could not have been as the Suit were much earlier in time) nor in the Appeals by way of any formal amendment of the pleadings; but at the request and consent of the Counsel for the Province of Sindh, was permitted to be challenged through verbal arguments. The learned Division Bench while deciding Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fifth version, came to the conclusion that it was intra vires to the Constitution and the previous shortcomings and defects in the legislation in respect of discrimination and the measurement of the levy had been cured, and therefore, it was upheld. It may also be of relevance to observe that though in Sanofi Aventis the fifth version was upheld; but it had been re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2007 on 24.10.2007 made effective from 28.3.2007; however, the judgment deals with the Ordinance, 2006, with a categorical finding that it is neither retrospective in nature nor it is applicable to past and closed transactions and section 1(2) of 2006 Ordinance confirms that it shall be enforceable at once, i.e. from the date of its promulgation, being prospective and not retrospective16. "(b) the fifth version of law i.e. the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 is valid and hence the levy imposed and collected from the effective date of the fifth version i.e. 28.12.2006 is valid and all imposition and collection before such date are declared to be invalid;"
2. In view of the above prayer of the learned Sr. ASC appearing for Government of Sindh, the above listed appeals are dismissed as not pressed." "Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry, C.J.- Learned Counsel for the parties after having addressed arguments at length were enquired / required to satisfy that in absence of specific challenge to 5th version of the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, (Sindh Ordinance No. XXXVIII of 2006), re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007) whether it was legally possible for the learned High Court to decide the appeals arising out of the judgment dated 28.10.2003 passed by a learned Single Judge whereby civil suits filed by the parties were disposed of.
2. It is to be noted that instant proceedings have arisen out of a civil suit instituted by the appellants wherein the first, second, third and fourth version of the law mentioned hereinabove were challenged, but so far fifth version is concerned, it was promulgated when the appeals before the High Court were pending, therefore, it had become necessary to amend the pleadings and challenged the same because of a number of differences in the earlier versions and re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007). Had the matter arisen between the parties out of petition under Article 199 or any other relevant provisions, perhaps, the High Court may have allowed the parties to argue their case as to the developments taking place during pendency of the lis, but when there was a suit on the basis of pleadings, in our considered opinion amendment of the pleadings was necessary and if any concessional statement on the issue was given by the learned counsel for the respondents the same was not admissible under the law. On this learned counsel for the parties discussed the said issue and filed the following joint statement: "Joint statement By consent the subject appeals may be disposed of in the following terms:
1. The subject appeals all challenge inter alia the judgments of the learned single judge as well as the division bench of the Honorable High Court of Sindh at Karachi whereby the fifth version of the impugned law in question introduced vide Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, (No. XXXVIII of 2006), re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007) was upheld and the fourth version of the impugned law in question introduced vide the Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (XVI of 2001) was upheld to the extent of legislative competence.
2. That notwithstanding the concessional statement to the effect that no formal challenge would be required having been made by the then learned counsel appearing then for the Government of Sindh, this Honorable Court may kindly be pleased to set aside the impugned orders, judgments, decrees passed by the courts below to the extent noted above. (Emphasis supplied)
3. The appellants will be at liberty to challenge any / all versions of the levy on infrastructure with which the appellants are aggrieved. It is therefore, prayed that all the appeals be disposed of in the above terms."
3. Mr. Makhdoom Ali Khan, learned counsel for the appellant's states that Mr. Khalid Anwar, learned Sr. ASC, who is not available today in Islamabad, has instructed him to file statement on his behalf and that such instructions have been taken on telephone.
4. As a result of above Joint Statement (Arrangement between the parties) the impugned judgments along with the interim order already passed on 27.10.2008, etc. whereby the parties were directed to maintain status quo, are set aside with all the legal consequences legally to be followed after vacating the said order. The appellants in terms of above arrangement, however, shall be free to challenge any or all versions of levy on infrastructure with which they feel aggrieved save in accordance with law.
5. All the appeals are disposed of in the above terms. Parties are left to bear their own costs."
10. Insofar as the case of the present Petitioners is concerned, it has been argued that since the Government of Sindh had withdrawn its Appeals and the said withdrawal was dependent upon the outcome of the Appeals filed by the private parties which were then disposed of through a joint statement which was only to the extent of the fourth version (only the legislative competence) and the fifth version; therefore, insofar as the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis is concerned, the same is now a case of past and closed transaction, whereby, the first four versions of the impugned levy were struck down. On the other hand, the case of Province of Sindh is that since the subsequent Amending Ordinance i.e. Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, (No. XXXVIII of 2006), re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finance Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007) and Sindh Finance Act, 2009 were made applicable retrospectively, whereas, a revalidation clause was also promulgated; therefore, the effect of the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis is no more in field. On perusal of the record and the orders passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the respective Appeals of the parties, we are of the considered view that the stance of the present Petitioners appears to be correct to a certain extent. It is to be noted that it was the Province of Sindh which first withdrew its Appeals, and the said order very clearly reflects that it is being done on the instructions of the Government of Sindh i.e. not to press the Appeals. It has been recorded that the entire case of the Government of Sindh would be dependent upon the result of the Appeals of the private persons, whereas, despite a statement of their Counsel regarding enactment of subsequent legislation retrospectively, the final order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is only a simplicitor withdrawal of the Appeals filed by the Province. It was observed that in view of above prayer of the learned Senior Advocate appearing for the Government of Sindh the Appeals are dismissed as not pressed. It has neither remanded the matter nor has asked the Appellate Court to decide it afresh after examining the Re-validation clause and retrospective effect of the enactments as contended by their Counsel. Admittedly the private parties had only challenged the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fourth version in respect of legislative competence, and the entire fifth version of the law. On the other hand, the Appeals of the aggrieved parties were disposed of on the basis of a joint statement which was only in respect of the fourth version (partly) and the fifth version of the law. In our considered view, the entire case of the Province to the extent of their Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court was (i) that it withdrew its Appeals merely on the ground that subsequent legislation had been made or enacted, and that satisfies them to withdraw their Appeals; and (ii) it was also dependent on the outcome of the Appeals of the private persons. When the two orders as above are read in juxtaposition to arrive at a fair conclusion, it appears that insofar as the subsequent Amending Ordinance of 2006, The 2007 Act and the 2009 Act, and its retrospective applicability is concerned, it was never touched upon by the Hon'ble Supreme Court; nor was it remanded to the Appellate Court for any adjudication. It was just merely a statement of the learned Advocate for the Province of Sindh; but in effect, there was no conclusive finding by the Hon'ble Supreme Court that as to what would be the effect of these Amending Ordinance / Act through which the same were purportedly made applicable retrospectively. The aggrieved party was left to challenge it (i.e. the fifth version or any other version) and naturally they would only challenge what is against them. At that point of time it was only the fifth version which they could have challenged and not the first four versions in respect of which Sanofi Aventis had decided it in their favor (barring the legislative competence in respect of the fourth version). Similarly, when the joint statement filed in the Appeals of the private parties is examined, it appears to be filed by consent and it clearly reflects that it was only to the effect of setting aside the impugned judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fourth version in respect of its legislative competence and the fifth version. And this arrangement was apparently arrived at because before the High Court the fifth version was permitted to be impugned on a verbal concession of the Counsel then appearing for the Province of Sindh without a formal amendment of the pleadings. It was also observed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the order date 20.5.2011 that these proceedings had arisen out of a civil suit instituted by the appellants wherein the first, second, third and fourth version of the law mentioned hereinabove were challenged, but so far the fifth version is concerned, it was promulgated when the Appeals before the High Court were pending, therefore, it had become necessary to amend the pleadings and challenge the same because of a number of differences in the earlier versions and re-enactment through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007). It was further observed that had the matter arisen between the parties out of petition under Article 199 or any other relevant provisions, perhaps, the High Court may have allowed the parties to argue their case as to the developments which took place during pendency of the lis, but when there was a suit on the basis of pleadings, in our considered opinion amendment of the pleadings was necessary and if any concessional statement on the issue was given by the learned counsel for the respondents the same was not admissible under the law. It appears that on this observation, the parties filed a joint statement for disposal of the said set of Appeals. Even otherwise, after withdrawal of the Appeals filed by the Government of Sindh it could not be presumed that the private parties would agree for setting aside of the entire judgment even to the extent of the first four versions which was in their favour. Therefore, in our considered view and insofar as the present position is concerned, the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the first four versions of the impugned levy has attained finality and for the present purposes we are not required to examine the validity of these four versions any further, on the ground that thereafter an Amending Ordinance in 2006 and the 2009 Act had been promulgated. It could have only been done in the pending Appeals if the Province of Sindh had not withdrawn their appeals simplicitor; and if it had sought a disposal order by remanding the matter to the Appellate Court on this touchstone that the subsequent Amending Ordinances / Act, have been given effect retrospectively and had also in effect nullified the impugned judgment; the Appeals be heard afresh. This was never their case. In fact, the court in Sanofi Aventis while considering the effect of Amendment Ordinance, 2006, had clearly observed that the fifth version was prospective in nature as it was effective from the date of its promulgation. Though at that point of time Sindh Finance Act, 2007 (Sindh Act No. II of 2007) had also been passed through which it was given effect from 28.3.2007 and had also repealed Amendment Ordinance, 2006; however, it was not considered by the learned Bench in the case of Sanofi Aventis. Moreover, it was only in the sixth version in 2009 that it was given effect from the date of introduction of the levy through Sindh Finance Act, 1994 i.e. 1.7.1994.
11. The upshot of the above discussion is that the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of validity or otherwise of the first four versions of the law in question is concerned, it has attained finality as the Province of Sindh had withdrawn its Appeals to that extent without seeking any remand of the matter to the same Appellate Court. This includes the question of any retrospective applicability of the Amending laws i.e. the fifth version onwards. However, since it was arising out of proceedings initiated by way of a Civil Suit between the parties, it is only applicable to the inter-parties who were before the Court at the original stage by way of Suits in Quetta Textile and then in Appeals in Sanofi Aventis and not in rem to all.
12. Alternatively, even if we assume for a moment that the stance of the Province before the Hon'ble Supreme Court was justified to the extent that since subsequently after pronouncement of judgment in Sanofi Aventis an amending law "The Sindh Finance Act, 2009" had been passed retrospectively; hence, the Appeals were necessarily ought to have been withdrawn. However, at the very outset (and discussed in detail hereinafter) we may point out that the Sindh Finance Act, 2009, was never a law which had anything to do with undoing the judgment in Sanofi Aventis. Nonetheless the validity of such amending and validation clauses even otherwise cannot ipso-facto invalidate the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis. Such amending and or Re-validation law still has to pass the test of settled law in this context. We notwithstanding our above findings will even examine such Re-validation which purportedly as per the Respondents case has undone the effect of the judgment in Sanofi Aventis. It may be recalled that when the judgment in Sanofi Aventis was passed, four versions of law were already in challenge and all had been declared as ultra vires. The fifth version came during pendency of the Appeal and its vires were permitted to be impugned verbally by way of arguments. And while the Appeal of the Province was pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, The Sindh Finance Act, 2009 was promulgated and the Appeals were not pressed. Now on a holistic examination of the same we do not see as to how the stance of the Province is justified that the amending Ordinance and or law as well the re-validation clauses have undone the effect of the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis. Though it is a well settled principle that effect of a judgment rendered by a competent Court of law declaring any provision of law as ultra vires or declaring levy of a tax as illegal can be undone; however, it is also well settled that it can only be done if the grounds of illegality or invalidity are capable of being removed and are in fact removed. This Court in several cases has recognized the right of the legislature to re-enact a law on the same subject, which on account of legal infirmities in its enactment process had been declared invalid by a Court of law, by removing the causes that led to its invalidity. The legislature is also competent to make the re-enacted law applicable retrospectively in order to bind even the past transactions that had been declared invalid
17. But at the same time it is also well settled that when a legislature intend to validate a tax declared by a Court to be illegally collected under an invalid law, the cause for ineffectiveness or invalidity must be removed before the validation can be said to take place effectively and it will not be sufficient merely to pronounce in the statute by means of a non-obstinate clause that the decision of the Court shall not bind the authority, because that will amount to reversing a judicial decision rendered in exercise of the judicial power, which is not within the domain of the Legislature. It is therefore necessary that the conditions on which the decision of the Court intended to be avoided is based, must be altered so fundamentally, that the decision would not any longer be applicable to the altered circumstances. The seminal judgment in this regard is of Molasses Trading18 wherein the issue was that to undo the effect of judgment rendered in the case of Al-Samrez Enterprises19 by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, section 31A in the Customs Act, 1969 was introduced and an attempt was made to give the amendment a retrospective effect. However, in Molasses Trading20 it was held that despite such an attempt the insertion of section 31A did not have an effect on the past and closed transactions. The pertinent observation is as under: "Before considering this question it would be appropriate to make certain general observations with regard to the power of validation possessed by the legislature in the domain of taxing statute. It has been held that when a legislature intend to validate a tax declared by a Court to be illegally collected under an invalid law, the cause for ineffectiveness or invalidity must be removed before the validation can be said to take place effectively. It will not be sufficient merely to pronounce in the statute by means of a non-obstinate clause that the decision of the Court shall not bind the authority, because that will amount to reversing a judicial decision rendered in exercise of the judicial power, which is not within the domain of the Legislature. It is therefore necessary that the conditions on which the decision of the Court intended to be avoided is based, must be altered so fundamentally, that the decision would not any longer be applicable to the altered circumstances. One of the accepted modes of achieving this object by the Legislature is to re-enact retrospectively a valid and legal taxing provision, and adopting the fiction to make the tax already collected to stand under the re-enacted law. The Legislature can even give its own meaning and interpretation of the law under which the tax was collected and by 'legislative fiat' make the new meaning biding upon Court. It is in one of these ways that the Legislature can neutralize the earlier decision of the Court. The Legislature has within the bound of the Constitutional Limitation the power to make such a law and give it retrospective effect so as to bind even past transaction. In ultimate analysis therefore a primary test of validating piece of legislation is whether the new provision removes the defect, which the Court had found in the existing law, and whether adequate provisions in the validating law for a valid imposition of tax were made." It was further held that vested rights cannot be taken away save by express words or necessary intendment in the statute; that Legislature, which is competent to make a law, has full plenary powers within its sphere of operation to legislate retrospectively or retroactively; that vested right can be taken away by a retrospective/retroactive legislation and such legislation cannot be struck down on that ground; that Statute cannot be read in such a way as to change accrued rights, the title to which consists in transactions past and closed or any facts or events that have already occurred; that when a statute contemplates that a state of affairs should be deemed to have existed, it clearly proceeds on the assumption that in fact it did not exist at the relevant time but by a legal fiction Court has to assume as if it did exist; that when a statute enacts that something shall be deemed to have been done which in fact and in truth was not done, the Court is entitled and bound to ascertain for what purpose and between what persons the statutory fiction is to be resorted to. It is a well-settled principle of interpretation that there is a strong presumption against the retrospectivity of a legislation which touches or destroys the vested rights of the parties. No doubt the Legislature is competent to give retrospective effect to an Act and can also take away the vested rights of the parties, but to provide for such consequences, the Legislature must use words which are clear, unambiguous and are not capable of any other interpretation or such interpretation follows as a necessary implication from the words used in the enactment. Therefore, while construing a legislation which has been given retrospective effect and interferes with the vested rights of the parties, the words used therein must be construed strictly and no case should be allowed to fall within the letter and spirit of Act which is not covered by the plain language of the legislation21.
13. While keeping in view the above dicta when the issue in hand and the purported retrospective legislation is looked into, it appears that it fails the above test miserably. As would be recalled the Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court were withdrawn on the ground that Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 ratified into the Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007), and further amended by the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 200922 has made the impugned levy retrospectively applicable. But apparently this does not suffice in any manner. The Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 dated 28.12.2006 provided that it shall come into effect at once. This means that it is effective from 28.12.2006. This ends the matter here. And this is what has been held in Sanofi Aventis. Thereafter Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007) was promulgated on 24.10.2007 and stated that it shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from 28.3.2007. Again it had no retrospective effect so as to cure any past defects in the law except that it was made applicable from 28.3.2007 though it was issued on 24.10.2007. Finally Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2009 was promulgated on 23.2.2009 and provided that the Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007) be amended and shall be deemed to have been amended with effect from 1.7.1994. The other amendments made are not of relevance for the present purposes. It is to be noted that Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2009 was promulgated on 23.2.2009 i.e. after judgment was delivered on 17.9.2008 in the case of Sanofi Aventis; however, neither any retrospective purposeful legislation was made; nor any attempt was made to undo the judgment in Sanofi Aventis; but surprisingly the Appeals were not pressed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court by stating that some retrospective legislation had been made. It may also be noted that the curative or otherwise re-validation laws that were stated to have been in field at the time of withdrawal of the Appeals by the Province had got nothing to do with their Appeals at least, as the fifth version had already been held to be intra vires in Sanofi Aventis. When we examine the relevant provisions in question on the touchstone of law settled by the Hon'ble Supreme Court from time to time including that in Molasses Trading, we are undoubtedly of the view that the suggested amendments as above have failed to cure any defect in the legislation; at least to the extent of the first four versions of the law between the parties in litigation till Sanofi Aventis was delivered. Neither there is any deeming clause in the 2009 Act; nor it caters or even mentions the judgment; nor has a non-obstante clause; except some retrospective effect. That may be good for those who had not challenged the levy from the outset; however, this would not be applicable to the parties who already had a judgment in their favor i.e Sanofi Aventis. It need not be reiterated that when a statute enacts that something shall be deemed to have been done which in fact and in truth was not done, the Court is entitled and bound to ascertain for what purposes and between what persons the statutory fiction is to be resorted to
23. It would require language much more explicit than that which is to be found in Ordinance, 2009, to justify a Court of law in holding that a legislative body intended not merely to alter the law, but to alter it so as to deprive a litigant of a judgment rightly given and still subsisting24.
14. Therefore, from the above discussion it can be safely concluded that insofar as the first four versions of the law / impugned levy is concerned, the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis has settled the matter between the litigating parties and is a case of a past and closed transaction. The subsequent attempt by way of any law up to the Sindh Finance Act, 2009, does not undo the effect of such judgment, as neither any proper retrospective effect was given to the subsequent law; nor any satisfactory curative or re-validation clauses were incorporated which could pass the litmus test for doing so in terms of law settled by the superior court including that in the case of Molasses Trading. "THE SINDH DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE CESS ACT, 2017 SINDH ACT NO. XVIII OF 2017 AN ACT to consolidate the law relating to the levy of a cess on goods entering into and leaving the Province from or for outside the country through air or sea; Preamble WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate the law relating to the Preamble levy of a cess on goods entering into and leaving the Province from or for outside the country through air or sea, for development and maintenance of infrastructure of the Province; CHAPTER-I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
(1) This Act may be called the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act, 2017. (2) It extends to the whole of the Province of Sindh. (3) It shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from 1st July, 1994. (a) "cess" means the cess payable under section 3 of the Act; (b) "Director" means the Director, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control; (c) "Director General" means Director General, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Sindh; (d) "District Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Officer" means the Senior Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Officer or Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Officer of the District, having jurisdiction; (e) "Government" means the Government of Sindh; (f) "owner" means the person in whose name the goods are entering or leaving the Province from or for outside the country by air or sea and includes the clearing agent; (g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules; (h) "person" includes the person, entity, any company or association or body of persons, whether incorporated or not; (i) "Province" means the Province of Sindh; (j) "rules" means rules made under this Act; and (k) "Schedule" means Schedule appended to this Act; CHAPTER-II SCOPE OF CESS
There shall be levied and collected a cess for maintenance and development of infrastructure on goods at the rate determined on the basis of their value, net weight and distance in accordance with the Schedule, for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement in the Province upon entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea: Explanation: for the purpose of this section, the word "infrastructure" includes roads, streets, bridges, culverts, lights on passages, plantation on passages, beaches, public parks, place of public recreation and convenience, eating places, landscape, forests, fisheries, delta conservation, lakes, breeding places of aquatic life, wild life and its sanctuaries, public schools, vocational and technical training centers and projects, libraries, museums and similar institutions controlled and financed by the Province, control of traffic for smooth flow and safer movement of goods, public order, police force, patrol for safety of goods, stands for loading and unloading of goods, parking places, markets, water supply, hospitals and dispensaries and development, improvement, maintenance and protection of such matters". Chapter-IV / Miscellaneous
13. Validation.
Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, rules or Judgment, order or decree of any court the Infrastructure Cess levied, assessed, charged and collected in pursuance of Sindh Finance Act, 1994 and amendments thereof, before coming into force of this Act shall be deemed to have been validly levied, assessed, charged or collected.
16. The aforesaid Act of 2017 was made effective by virtue of section 1(3) from 1.7.1994. It also substituted the charging section to read that now the cess was levied and collected for maintenance and development of infrastructure for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement in the Province upon entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea, whereas the explanation appended thereto provided the meaning and purpose for the said levy of infrastructure cess. The precise case of the Petitioners is in respect of the legislative competence of the Province under the Constitution and whether it discriminates the petitioners in any manner or not. And lastly, whether this 2017 Act, is applicable retrospectively or not (this we may add to the extent of litigants in the earlier round in Sanofi Aventis already stands discussed earlier). Petitioners Counsel have argued that the Province cannot legislate on the subject matter as according to them the levy in question is covered by Entries 2425, 2726 and 4327 of the Federal Legislative List as enumerated in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution and by virtue of Article 142(a) ibid, it is only the Federation which can legislate on it. Their emphasis has been that the levy in question is in fact a tax or fee on the import and export of goods as it is being levied and collected in the same manner as the Customs duty under the Customs Act, 1969, including that on ad-valorem28 basis. With respect we do not agree. This is wholly misconceived and untenable as merely by providing a mechanism of collection of the levy in question, it would not ipso-facto become a customs duty, and consequently, falling within the domain of the Federal Legislature. The impugned levy in its present form is a cess for maintenance and development of infrastructure29 on goods upon entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement in the Province. For the present purposes the levy is only applicable and challenged upon goods entering the Province from outside the Country as for the remaining it is exempted30.
17. As of today, post 18th amendment we need to look into Article 142 of the Constitution first which determines the boundaries of the Federal and Provincial Legislatures. In terms of Article 142(a) the Parliament (Federal Legislature) has the exclusive power to make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in Federal List; pursuant to Article 142(b), the Federal and Provincial Legislatures have powers to make laws with respect to criminal laws, criminal procedure and evidence; and pursuant to Article 142(c) the Parliament / Federal Legislature shall not and Province shall have power to make laws with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Federal Legislative List. Post 18th amendment the net result is that now there are (a) enumerated competences set out in the Federal List, which are exclusive to the Federation, (b) three enumerated competences which are concurrent, and (c) a whole host of non-enumerated competences which are exclusive to the Provinces
31. Though it is also a well-settled proposition of law that an entry in a Legislative list cannot be construed narrowly or in a pedantic manner but it is to be given liberal construction in this behalf32; however, at the same time one must take note that the present case is not that of legislation being challenged on the ground that it does not fall or is not covered within a certain legislative entry; rather it is the inverse in this case. The Provincial Legislature has ample powers to legislate on any matter not falling within any of the Entries of the Federal Legislative List. And that is the end of the matter. It is the petitioners who have come before this Court to assert that the impugned levy falls with the competence of the Federal Legislature. At the same time the Federal Legislature has not imposed any such levy; nor has the competence of the Provincial Legislature is under dispute at least by the Federation itself as has been the case in a number of laws post 18th amendment
33. It is in fact a case of residuary powers of the Provincial Legislature which has been exercised and its interpretation cannot be aligned or equated with the principles of interpretation applicable while examining the same on the touchstone of a specified Entry in the Legislative List. Unlike India, presently we do not have any Legislative List for the Provinces. In fact, as of today, post 18th amendment [subject to Article 142(b)], we do not even have any Concurrent Legislative List. It is in this context that we need to examine and interpret the legislative powers of the Province. As must be understood, it is not humanly possible to conceive all legislative fields and to overcome this, now we have a system in place which empowers the Provincial Legislature to enact laws as are not covered by any of the Entries in the Federal Legislative List. This at the same time does not permit or provides sanction or authority to the Province to legislate on any matter as it deems fit. All these powers remain circumscribed as to the intent and will of the Constitution as a whole. The main focus of the Petitioners Counsel against the validity of the impugned levy was in respect of its taxable event. According to them since it was being levied at the same time and in the same manner as a customs duty under the Customs Act, 1969; hence, it would fall within the competence of the Federal Legislature pursuant to Entry 43 (Duties of Customs, including export duties) of the Federal Legislative List. However, this argument is least impressive as it is not always so. A closer analysis invariably reveals that what appears to be the same event is (usually) in fact and (certainly) in law, two separate taxing events each of which falls, properly, within the scope of a distinct taxing power
34. This has been well defined now in respect of levy of Professional Tax, which is though a tax on income and by way of Entry 47 in the Federal List falls within the competence of the Federation; however, by way of Article 163 ibid, the Province (subject to limitations) can levy taxes on professions, trades, callings or employments. Hence, on the same taxing event, even both legislatures have their respective competence.
18. While hearing arguments we had confronted both lead Counsels for the petitioners that earlier in a somewhat similar manner, levy of Octroi in terms of Municipal Administration Ordinance, 1960 (X of 1960) ("Ordinance"), vide West Pakistan Municipal Committee Octroi Rules, 1964, has been held to be a valid levy by this Court on a number of occasions inasmuch as it was also levied and collected on Imports as "Sea dues" and in the same manner as Customs Duty on ad-valorem basis. In response we were assisted that ratio of such judgments35 would not apply to the present levy. Precisely, according to them, taxable event for imposition of Octroi was the import of goods in the Octroi limits for consumption, use or sale within that area i.e. the goods had to be imported into the Octroi limits for the purpose of consumption, use or sale within those limits and if either of these conditions was not met, there was no taxable event and Octroi was not payable. With respect we disagree. In Universal Merchants36 the challenge was against imposition and enhancement of rates of Octroi on liquor. At the relevant time Karachi Municipal Corporation, then functioning under the Ordinance (relevant period being between abrogation of the 1956 Constitution and before enactment of the 1962 Constitution) and when the country was being governed by virtue of certain other instruments so far as may be in accordance with the 1956 Constitution. Pursuant to section 33 of the Ordinance KMC was authorized to levy in the prescribed manner all or any of the taxes, rates, tolls and fees mentioned in the Third Schedule including Tax on the import of goods for consumption, use or sale in a municipality and Tax on the export of goods from a municipality. Further in terms of sections 35, 37, 38, 39, 41 and 121 of the Ordinance the Government had made rules which were called the West Pakistan Municipal Committee Octroi Rules, 1964 levying Octroi and prescribing a detailed procedure for its collection at the rates specified in the Appendix to the rules. This levy was of two types. One on goods imported from abroad; and the other on goods being brought into the respective Municipal limits for sale, use or consumption. Rule 2(e) of the said Rules defined "export"37, 2(i) defined "import"38, 2(m) defined "octroi"39, 2(s) defined "Value"
40. This levy of Octroi on Import from abroad was challenged before a Divison Bench of this Court in the case of Universal Merchants (Supra). The precise case of the Petitioners was that it could not be imposed at all in respect of Karachi as it was interference with the freedom of trade and commerce in the country and the only competent authority was the Federal Legislature. It was argued that item 5 of the 5th Schedule to the 1956 Constitution41 enumerates competence of the Central Legislature; hence, it was ultra vires. In fact when 1964 Rules were promulgated item 5 in the Third Schedule to the 1962 Constitution42 was somewhat similar in nature. At Para 6 of the judgment the Court observed as follows;
6. Assuming, however, for the sake of argument in favour of the petitioners that the Municipality cannot, under the Ordinance, impose a tax in any field which belongs to the exclusive competence of the Central Legislature I still do not think that Octroi is such a tax as come within the relevant item which I have quoted from the 1956 and the 1962 Constitutions. It is true of course that goods which enter the city of Karachi may be entering from a province other than the one in which Karachi is situate or even from outside the country altogether. The tax is nevertheless a tax upon the import of goods for consumption, use or in a Municipality. The purpose of the tax, therefore, is to levy a charge upon goods which are brought in, not only within the city but for consumption, use or sale within the City. If goods are landed from abroad but are not intended for such consumption sale or use but are intended to be so used, let us say, in Lahore, then, Octroi would not be leviable. The entire purpose of making the Central Legislature, the authority who alone is competent to legislate upon inter-provincial trade and trade with foreign countries, is to allow it to have control over such trade. Octroi on the other hand is a charge upon import within a city. The fact that in a given case the goods may happen to come from another province or from outside the country is incidental and besides the point. Even so if they are not intended for use in the city the tax would not be chargeable. The argument, therefore, I think is wholly fallacious Octroi, is not a tax which is concerned with inter-provincial trade or trade with foreign countries and is, therefore, within the competence of the Provincial Legislature and therefore of the Municipality.
19. This judgment was then followed in the case of Shershah Industries43 and Hyderi Ship Breaking44 by another Division Bench of this Court, which even went further and also dilated upon the issue and interpretation of the words "Import" on which much stress was laid by the Petitioners Counsel before us. The petitioners in that case had imported a Vessel for scrapping and dismantling which arrived at the Outer Anchorage of the Port, which location, according to the petitioners, was outside the Karachi Port, and was then taken directly to Gadani Beach, in Lasbella District of the Province of Baluchistan. There it was scrapped and when petitioners wanted to bring the ship scrap into Karachi by road, Octroi was demanded at the rate of 2% ad valorem of the duty paid value of the vessel pursuant to Schedule A of the Rules applicable to all imported goods. The petitioners were willing to pay Octroi at Rs. 3.50 per ton on the scrap being brought by them into Karachi Municipal limits through trucks via R.C.D. Highway, and challenged the demand of Octroi at 2% ad valorem of the duty paid value of the vessel. When this petition was being heard the provisions under consideration were of the interim Constitution of 1972 and the 1973 Constitution. It was contended by the Petitioners that Octroi in question though described as Octroi, was actually a "customs or import duty" which is a Federal subject under the two Constitutions and the Provincial Government by levying such Octroi duty has transgressed the Federal field of legislation, and in support reliance was placed on Article 138 and the entries of the Federal Legislative list contained in the Fourth Schedule to the 1972 Interim Constitution
45. The finding of the Court is as under; "Cesses on entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein." Now in the Interim-Constitution of 1972, apart from the Federal and Concurrent Lists, there was a separate Provincial Legislative List, whereas in the 1973 Constitution there are only two Legislative List namely the Federal Legislative List and the concurrent Legislative List. However, Article 142(c) If 1973 Constitution provides that "Provincial Assembly shall, and Parliament shall not, have power to make laws with respect to any matter not enumerated in either the Federal Legislative List or the concurrent Legislative List. It may be mentioned here that Article 142 remains intact and has not been deleted by the Provincial Constitution Order; 1981. Subject contained in Item 47 of the Provincial Legislative List of the Interim-Constitution, 1972 is neither mentioned nor covered by any item of the two Legislative Lists of the 1973 Constitution. The only logical conclusion is that by virtue of Article 142(c) of the 1973 Constitution, the Subject "Cesses on entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein falls squarely" within the Provincial Legislative field " We may now examine the other limb of the argument of the learned counsel for the petitioners that Octroi on goods imported by sea is in essence and reality a duty of customs but in the garb of Octroi. According to Mr. Khurshid Anwar Shaikh as Octroi becomes leviable as soon as the goods are imported into Karachi from abroad, the notifications of 15-6-1973 are in effect imposing a duty of customs. Mr. A. A. Fazeel, learned counsel for K. M. C., referred us to a Division Bench judgment of this Court in the case of Universal Merchants v. Commissioner of Karachi 1980 C L C 704, and urged that this point has been considered and decided in that judgment. In paragraph 4 of the said judgment it is observed as under; We are in respectful agreement with the aforesaid observations. Octroi tax has been clearly distinguished from other taxes and the basic reason is that it' is a tax "upon goods which are brought in not only within the city but for consumption, use or sale within the city." In our view Octroi tax on good's coming from abroad and entering the municipal Octroi limits for the purpose) of consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits cannot be equated with duties of customs.
20. Though the learned Counsel for the Petitioners emphatically contended that these two judgments do not support the case of the Respondents and in fact they are supportive of the stance taken by the Petitioners inasmuch as the reason which prevailed upon the learned Benches to uphold the levy of Octroi on imports was due to the fact the goods were being either sold, used or otherwise consumed within the Municipal limits. However, with respect we are not in agreement with such suggestion put forth by them. The goods in that case were coming from abroad admittedly; the levy was on ad-volaram basis; it was on all imported goods; and lastly was being collected in the same manner and at the same time as the Customs Duty. Secondly, Shershah Industries (supra) has also dealt with somewhat similar situation while dilating upon the position with respect to the interim Constitution of 1972. The Interim-Constitution of 1972, apart from the Federal and Concurrent Lists, also had a separate Provincial Legislative List. On the other hand the 1973 Constitution only had two Legislative Lists namely the Federal Legislative List and the Concurrent Legislative List. In somewhat similar manner as it is today, in terms of Article 142(c) of the 1973 Constitution Provincial Assembly shall, and Parliament shall not, have power to make laws with respect to any matter not enumerated in either the Federal Legislative List or the Concurrent Legislative List. Since the subject contained in Item 4746 of the Provincial Legislative List (List-II) of the Interim-Constitution, 1972 was neither mentioned nor covered by any item of the two Legislative Lists of the 1973 Constitution, the learned Division Bench observed that the only logical conclusion is that by virtue of Article 142(c) of the 1973 Constitution, the Subject "Cesses on entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein" falls squarely within the Provincial Legislative field. This reasoning of the Court is very relevant and pertinent for the present purposes. And this is for the reason that in the present context the scope of Provincial Legislature has not been curtailed in any manner pursuant to the 18th Amendment. It is not that the said item or entry has been included in the Federal Legislative List. Neither by express words nor by implication. Rather it is left open and remains available to the Provincial Legislature. Therefore, the argument that since the impugned levy in question is on ad-valoram basis and is being collected on imported goods, it becomes a Customs Duty; and in terms of Entry 43 of the Federal Legislative List, it is only the Federation which is competent to levy and impose it, is neither convincing nor is supported by the precedents discussed as above. In fact, in our considered view, the two judgments as above are contrary to what has been argued before us.
21. Subsequently, another Division Bench of this Court in the case of Pakistan International Freight Forwarders47 has also followed and endorsed this view regarding similarity in the taxing event and the competence of the Federal and Provincial Legislature at the same time. What one understands from this is that despite there being various Entries in the Federal Legislative List which are analogous to the present Entries under discussion and relied upon by the Petitioners, earlier, the Province by way of a specific Entry in its Legislative List, and thereafter, by way of Concurrent List, has been declared to be competent to levy a tax on import of goods from abroad (notwithstanding its consumption within certain limits), and such Entry i.e. 47 from the Interim Constitution having not been incorporated into the Federal Legislative List, remains available simultaneously to the Provincial Legislature irrespective of the fact that presently there is no specific List for it after the 18th Amendment. Hence, the argument that the impugned levy is in fact a Customs Duty being levied and collected in the same manner on ad-valoram basis, therefore, cannot be sustained is not correct and is hereby repelled.
22. In Azfar Laboratories (Supra) before a learned Division Bench of this Court it was contended that insofar as residual non-enumerated powers are concerned, they did not constitute specific legislative fields or competences. The Court did not agree with this. It was observed that when the 18th Amendment omitted the Concurrent List and most of its entries became non-enumerated powers exclusive to the Provinces, they did not disappear into some undifferentiated mass of legislative power and remained what they had been before: distinct and discrete legislative fields. Thus the huge swaths of legislative power that are exclusive to the Provinces comprise of specific and discrete legislative fields or competences, which are known with particularity.
23. Now coming to the second limb of the argument of the Petitioners Counsel that levy of Octroi was declared valid and intra vires only because it was on goods which were being sold, used or otherwise consumed within certain Municipal Limits and not on goods in transit. To that we may be observe that this again is not correct and is misconceived. In the impugned legislation a very specific purpose has been provided for the imposition of the levy i.e. "for maintenance and development of infrastructure for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement of goods entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea". This in our view suffices and fulfills the requirement for imposition of the levy in question. It is no more a fee after the 3rd version and is a cess. It provides very clearly in the enactment the basic purpose and reason for justifying the impugned levy. It is no more a case of any fee or its quid pro quo; hence, to this extent, the impugned levy cannot be challenged. The Honorable Supreme Court in the case of Khurshid Soap and Chemical48 has been pleased to hold that if there is a declared purpose for imposition of a levy which comes with a promise to bring some benefit or advantage in future which is basically meant for its payers, and if such benefit or advantage is made available on the ground may be availed by others as well, but that would not change the status of such fee-levying enactment, and would remain a valid levy. The crux of the judgment is that if a cess is imposed with a specific purpose then it is distinct from a fee and does not require fulfillment of the doctrine of quid pro quo; and cannot be challenged to this extent. The relevant finding reads as under: 20. " .The other kind of a fee-levying legislation is where Cess is imposed as a compulsory exaction in the same manner where taxes are imposed with the distinction that it is imposed for achieving a specific purpose promised in the enactment itself which when realized would bring some advantage or benefit for the payers in future. It can be described as 'purpose specific' and in many judicial pronouncements have been termed as 'Cess-fee'. In such a form of levy, the specified purpose is pre-committed to the payers before the revenue is collected under the legislation. To quote a few examples, Cess is imposed to meet the extraordinary costs involved in providing infrastructure such as construction of dams or for importing oil or gas from abroad through pipelines or to build farm to mill roads in order to facilitate marketing of the agricultural produce or for conducting research and development in some specialized field. In such a form of levy the rule of quid pro quo does not exist in the same sense as it exists in a case where an existing service is rendered or a privilege is extended directly to the payer for a fee. What needs to be taken into consideration is whether the enactment has promised some benefit or advantage for the payers to be made available in future by utilizing the revenue, making it more akin to a fee then a pure revenue raising measure like taxes in general are imposed with no precondition attached for their spending .."
24. The basic difference between the enactment where fee-simplicitor is imposed and where Cess-fee is imposed is that in the former a service or a privilege is made available to the payer directly on the strict principle of quid pro quo whereas in the latter case, the declared purpose comes with a promise to bring some benefit or advantage in future which is basically meant for its payers. Such benefit or privilege once made available on the ground may be availed by others as well but that would not change the status of such fee-levying enactment. It would remain a specie of fee-levying enactment in contradistinction to tax-levying enactment in which no specific purpose or specific service needs to be disclosed by the legislature in order to justify its imposition.
24. When an issue arises as to interpreting apparent conflicting legislative entries when there are distinct entries for Federal and Provincial Legislatures, even in that situation it is not that the Court would always arrive at a conclusion that either of them has the competency to do so. It is but natural that in this situation controversies do arise as to the competency and as to who is exceeding its own domain and encroaching upon the others. In that case it is not the name of the tax; but its real nature i.e. the "pith and substance" that determines into what category or in whose domain such legislation would fall. In Governor General49, the Privy Council laid down important principles for interpreting apparently conflicting Legislative Entries in general and tax entries in particular. It was held, first, that though a tax may overlap, in fact there would be no overlapping, if the taxes were separate and distinct imposts; secondly, that the machinery of tax collection did not affect the real nature of a tax. Another principle for reconciling apparently conflicting tax entries follows from the fact that a tax has two elements; the person, thing or activity on which tax is imposed, and the amount of the tax. The amount may be measured in many ways; but decided cases establish a c lear distinction between the subject matter of a tax and the standard by which the amount of tax is measured. These two elements are described as the subject or a tax and the measure of a tax. This was also quoted with approval by the Supreme Court of India in D.G.Gouse50 as stating precisely the two elements involved in almost all tax cases, namely the subject of a tax and the measure of a tax. The conclusion for this kind of a situation is that principles of interpretation of conflicting Entries of Legislation cannot be placed in a strait jacket formula and it will vary, primarily depending upon the subject matter of the legislation in issue. Here in the matter in hand we do not even have such an issue, as Federal Legislature is not disputing the Provincial Legislatures exercise of powers in enacting legislation in respect of the impugned levy. Even where there have been separate entries for the Federal and Provincial Legislature, the Courts have, by applying the pith and substance principle validated such exercise of powers by either of the Legislatures. In determining the pith and substance of an existing law, one has only to look at the law itself regardless of its provenance under whatever constitutional dispensation it had originally been enacted. If it related to none of the entries in either of the Lists then it fell in the exclusive provincial domain and became a provincial law (coming also within the Federal domain but only in relation to those areas of Pakistan that did not form part of a Province, being effectively and principally the Capital)
51. The pith and substance of the legislated subject is to be examined to determine in whose legislative sphere a particular subject comes under. And above all a reasonable interpretation which does not produce impracticable results should be adopted52.
25. It is settled law that there is always a distinction between the object of tax, the incidence of tax and the machinery for the collection of the tax. The distinction is important and shall always be kept in consideration. Legislative competence is to be determined with reference to the object of the levy and not with reference to its incidence or machinery. Here in the impugned levy the imposition is on goods which are using the infrastructure of the Province after having landed at Port from abroad. Almost the entire cargo being imported in the Country routs through the Province of Sindh, and for that the Provincial Legislature thought it appropriate to impose a certain amount of tax in the form of a cess. It is though being collected from an Importer of goods; but in essence it is not on imports; but for maintenance and development of infrastructure on imported goods. Since goods using this infrastructure by itself cannot pay; nor can it be so recovered, and has to be recovered from someone i.e. the importers. The importers in this case are then persons having a direct control, connection, possession and nexus with these goods, and therefore, can be called to pay the impugned levy. And this to us seems to be fine and within the legislative competence of the Province. At the most it is only an expedient and convenient manner for which it has been levied at the stage of imports and nothing more.
26. In view of the above discussion it is hereby declared that insofar as the first four versions of the law / impugned levy is concerned, the same has no applicability on the petitioners who had earlier challenged the same and were before the Court in Sanofi Aventis; as the said judgment has attained finality and is a case of past and closed transaction. It is further held that The Sindh Finance Act, 2017, promulgated retrospectively with effect from 1.7.1994 is a valid law, within the competence of the Provincial Legislature and is applicable retrospectively; however, barring the Appellants in Sanofi Aventis.
27. Accordingly, in view of hereinabove facts and circumstances, all listed petitions are disposed of in the following terms; a. Insofar as the first four versions of law introduced through Sindh Finance Act, 1994, amended through Sindh Finance Act, 1996, the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, and the Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 are concerned, their applicability on the petitioners who had litigated earlier and were Appellants in Sanofi Aventis53, has attained finality and is a past and closed transaction, notwithstanding promulgation of its fifth version vide Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, further amended by The Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2007 (Sindh Act No: II of 2007, and The Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Sindh Act No.III of 2009); b. The Sindh Finance Act, 2017, promulgated retrospectively with effect from 1.7.1994 is a valid law within the competence of the Provincial Legislature under the Constitution and is applicable retrospectively; however, [subject to (a) as above]; c. All imposition and collection of the impugned levy with effect from 1.7.1994 pursuant to section 1(3) of the Sindh Finance Act, 2017, being retrospective in effect has been validly done and collected; again however, [subject to (a) as above]; d. All Bank Guaranteed furnished by the petitioners up to 27.12.2006 who had litigated earlier and were Appellants in Sanofi Aventis53, shall stand discharged; whereas those furnished by them on or after 28.12.2006 shall be en-cashed and paid to the department; e. All Bank Guarantees furnished by rest of the Petitioners not covered at (a) as above, shall be en-cashed and paid to the department; f. The operation of this judgment, considering the intricacy and the issue involved is hereby suspended for a period of 90 days from today; and in the meantime the earlier arrangement for release of the petitioners consignments shall continue on the same terms;
28. All listed petitions are disposed of in the above terms. Annexure "A"
1. Const. P.D 1598/2011 Pakistan Tabacco Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others 2 Const. P.D 1654/2011 Muhammad Iqbal Bilwani and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
3. Const. P.D 1655/2011 Muhammad Iqbal Bilwani and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
4. Const. P.D 1656/2011 Salman Mir and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
5. Const. P.D 1657/2011 Qamar Abbas and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
6. Const. P.D 1662/2011 Messrs The Paracha Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
7. Const. P.D 1668/2011 ICI Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
8. Const. P.D 1669/2011 Amer Cotton Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
9. Const. P.D 1671/2011 Nishat Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
10. Const. P.D 1673/2011 Indus Motors Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
11. Const. P.D 1674/2011 Nishat (Chunian) Ltd., v. Province of Sindh and others.
12. Const. P.D 1676/2011 Jubilee Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
13. Const. P.D 1678/2011 Premium Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
14. Const. P.D 1681/2011 Messrs Azam Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
15. Const. P.D 1687/2011 Gulshan Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
16. Const. P.D 1689/2011 Lotle Pakistan PTA Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
17. Const. P.D 1693/2011 Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
18. Const. P.D 1694/2011 Crescent Steel and Allied Products Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
19. Const. P.D 1695/2011 Sanofi Aventis Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
20. Const. P.D 1699/2011 Nishat Paper Products Company Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
21. Const. P.D 1700/2011 D.G Khan Cement Company Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
22. Const. P.D 1701/2011 Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
23. Const. P.D 1726/2011 International Industries Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
24. Const. P.D 1727/2011 Shabbir Tiles and Ceramics Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
25. Const. P.D 1728/2011 Agriauto Industries Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
26. Const. P.D 1729/2011 Dynea Pakistan Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
27. Const. P.D 1730/2011 Au Vitronics Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
28. Const. P.D 1754/2011 Messrs Umer Spinning Mills (Pvt) Ltd v. Province of Sindh and another
29. Const. P.D 1756/2011 Messrs Acro Spinning and Weaving Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
30. Const. P.D 1757/2011 Rawal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
31. Const. P.D 1759/2011 Bestway Cement Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others.
32. Const. P.D 1766/2011 Messrs Mahmood Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
33. Const. P.D 1776/2011 Naveena Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
34. Const. P.D 1778/2011 Messrs Naveena Experts Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
35. Const. P.D 1781/2011 Messrs Masood Fabrics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
36. Const. P.D 1798/2011 Salfi Textile Mills Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
37. Const. P.D 1799/2011 Island Textile Mills Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
38. Const. P.D 1800/2011 Tata Textile Mills Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
39. Const. P.D 1805/2011 Messrs Artistic Apparels (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
40. Const. P.D 1808/2011 Messrs Masood Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
41. Const. P.D 1809/2011 Inter Loop Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
42. Const. P.D 1812/2011 Margalla Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
43. Const. P.D 1817/2011 Messrs Colony Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
44. Const. P.D 1819/2011 Messrs Roomi Fabrics Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
45. Const. P.D 1820/2011 Messrs Fazal Rehman Fabrics Limited v. Province of Sindh and another
46. Const. P.D 1821/2011 Olympia Blended Fibre Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
47. Const. P.D 1823/2011 Prsperity Weaving Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
48. Const. P.D 1826/2011 Engro Eximp (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and others.
49. Const. P.D 1827/2011 Engro Polymer v. P.DO Sindh and others
50. Const. P.D 1828/2011 Engro Fertilizers Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
51. Const. P.D 1829/2011 Engro Foods Ltd. v. P.DO Sindh and others
52. Const. P.D 1830/2011 Engro Foods Supply v. P.DO Sindh and others
53. Const. P.D 1833/2011 Messrs Waheed Hafeez Ghee (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
54. Const. P.D 1842/2011 Messrs Hussanian Daud Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
55. Const. P.D 1849/2011 Messrs Ab Wahid Ab. Majid (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
56. Const. P.D 1850/2011 Messrs Al-Hilal Vegetable Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
57. Const. P.D 1866/2011 Pakistan Cables Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
58. Const. P.D 1867/2011 Siddiq sons Tin Plate Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
59. Const. P.D 1868/2011 Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
60. Const. P.D 1873/2011 Messrs Stallion Textiles (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
61. Const. P.D 1882/2011 Al-Nasr Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
62. Const. P.D 1884/2011 Messrs Hassan Limited v. Province of Sindh and another
63. Const. P.D 1887/2011 Adil Enterprise v. Province of Sindh and another
64. Const. P.D 1891/2011 Messrs Nishat (Chunian) Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
65. Const. P.D 1899/2011 Messrs Olympia Blended Fibre Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
66. Const. P.D 1900/2011 Ahmed Hassan Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
67. Const. P.D 1911/2011 Messrs Bismillah Textiles Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
68. Const. P.D 1920/2011 Mohammad Younus Abbasi v. Province of Sindh and others
69. Const. P.D 1921/2011 Resham Textiles Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
70. Const. P.D 1946/2011 Shafi Texcel Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
71. Const. P.D 1979/2011 Messrs Eastern Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
72. Const. P.D 1995/2011 Messrs Waheed Traders v. Province of Sindh and another
73. Const. P.D 1996/2011 Messrs Niaz Soap Factory v. Province of Sindh and another
74. Const. P.D 2013/2011 Ejaz Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
75. Const. P.D 2043/2011 Master Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
76. Const. P.D 2058/2011 Dura Industries (Pvt.) Ltd v. Province of Sindh and another
77. Const. P.D 2060/2011 Messrs Ruby Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
78. Const. P.D 2091/2011 Premier Formica Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
79. Const. P.D 2092/2011 Messrs Mohsin Match Factory (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
80. Const. P.D 2142/2011 Messrs Internatoional Steel Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
81. Const. P.D 2257/2011 Bhimra Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
82. Const. P.D 2312/2011 M. Shafi Tanneries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
83. Const. P.D 2314/2011 Shafi Clucochem (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
84. Const. P.D 2502/2011 Messrs Mehboob Tube Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
85. Const. P.D 2684/2011 Messrs Artistic Denim Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
86. Const. P.D 2751/2011 Messrs Flexipack Films v. The Province of Sindh and others
87. Const. P.D 2753/2011 Messrs Ismail Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
88. Const. P.D 2800/2011 Procter and Gamble Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
89. Const. P.D 2962/2011 Sitara Auto Impex v. Secretary Revenue and others
90. Const. P.D 3041/2011 Capital Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
91. Const. P.D 3043/2011 Diamond Products (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
92. Const. P.D 3045/2011 Shaffi Chemical Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
93. Const. P.D 3046/2011 Diamond Home Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
94. Const. P.D 3047/2011 Diamond Tyres Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
95. Const. P.D 3084/2011 BASF Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
96. Const. P.D 3085/2011 BASF Chemicals and Polymers Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
97. Const. P.D 3129/2011 Messrs Samin Textiles Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
98. Const. P.D 3167/2011 Messrs Sheikh Pipe Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
99. Const. P.D 3349/2011 Pak Denim Ltd., v. Province of Sindh and others.
100. Const. P.D 3560/2011 Messrs Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others.
101. Const. P.D 4122/2011 Shakeel Ahmed and others v. Province of Sindh and others
102. Const. P.D 4123/2011 Shakeel Ahmed and others v. Province of Sindh and others
103. Const. P.D 4169/2011 Messrs Pak Elektron Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
104. Const. P.D 1764/2011 Indus Home Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
105. Const. P.D 1933/2011 M/s. Lahore Feeds Ltd. VS. Province of Sindh
106. Const. P.D 2002/2011 Messrs Javed Impex v. Province of Sindh
107. Const. P.D 1675/2011 The Cresent Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
108. Const. P.D 1818/2011 Fatima Enterprises Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
109. Const. P.D 1885/2011 Naseem Exports Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
110. Const. P.D 1670/2011 Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
111. Const. P.D 1822/2011 Bhanero Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
112. Const. P.D 2147/2011 Apollo Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
113. Const. P.D 2051/2011 Kamal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
114. Const. P.D 1978/2011 Messrs Eastern Lether Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
115. Const. P.D 1639/2011 Gulistan Spinning Mills v. Province of Sindh
116. Const. P.D 1640/2011 Unilever Pakistan Foods v. Province of Sindh
117. Const. P.D 2014/2011 Ejaz Dyeing and Finishing Mills v. Province of Sindh
118. Const. P.D 1653/2011 Mapak Edible Oils (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
119. Const. P.D 1811/2011 Firhaj Footwear (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
120. Const. P.D 1647/2011 Diamond Fabric v. Province of Sindh
121. Const. P.D 1667/2011 Muhammad Ahmed v. Province of Sindh
122. Const. P.D 1661/2011 Faisal Export (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
123. Const. P.D 1991/2011 Al Hamd Edible Oil Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
124. Const. P.D 1780/2011 Artistic Apparels v. Province of Sindh
125. Const. P.D 1852/2011 ACP Oil Mills Pvt. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
126. Const. P.D 1762/2011 Sunrays Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
127. Const. P.D 1664/2011 Hafeez Ghee and General Mills v. Province of Sindh
128. Const. P.D 1642/2011 Messrs Gulshan Waving Mills v. Province of Sindh
129. Const. P.D 1761/2011 Feroz Textile v. Province of Sindh
130. Const. P.D 1837/2011 Messrs Taj Vegetable Oil Processing Unit (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
131. Const. P.D 1666/2011 Messrs Shakoo (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
132. Const. P.D 2122/2011 Messrs Agritech Limited v. Province of Sindh
133. Const. P.D 1677/2011 Dossa Cotton and General Trading (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
134. Const. P.D 1875/2011 Messrs Colony Sugar Mills v. Province of Sindh
135. Const. P.D 1814/2011 Messrs Quetta Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
136. Const. P.D 1738/2011 Adeel Hamza Oil Ind. v. Province of Sindh
137. Const. P.D 1660/2011 Hafeez Iqbal Oil and Ghee v. Province of Sindh
138. Const. P.D 1672/2011 Messrs Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
139. Const. P.D 1910/2011 Messrs Premier Clipboard Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
140. Const. P.D 1915/2011 Messrs A-J Match (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
141. Const. P.D 2061/2011 Messrs Ishaq Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
142. Const. P.D 1851/2011 Messrs Khadija Edible Oil Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
143. Const. P.D 1942/2011 Amin Feroz and Company v. Province of Sindh
144. Const. P.D 1892/2011 Messrs Suraj Fertilizer Ind. (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
145. Const. P.D 1773/2011 Ahmed Fine Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
146. Const. P.D 1770/2011 Olympia Spinning and Weaving Mill v. Province of Sindh
147. Const. P.D 1686/2011 Gulistan Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
148. Const. P.D 2815/2011 Capital Industries Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
149. Const. P.D 1824/2011 Nadeem Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
150. Const. P.D 1806/2011 Faisal Spinning Mills v. Province of Sindh
151. Const. P.D 1934/2011 Messrs Olympia Chemical Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
152. Const. P.D 2078/2011 Messrs Kohat Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
153. Const. P.D 1710/2011 Al-Saeed Enterprises v. Province of Sindh
154. Const. P D 1771/2011 Din Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
155. Const. P.D 1646/2011 Messrs Naeelam Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
156. Const. P.D 1896/2011 Ayesha Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
157. Const. P.D 1706/2011 Messrs MIMA Leather (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
158. Const. P.D 1665/2011 Messrs Habib Oil Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
159. Const. P.D 1711/2011 Messrs Soya Weaving Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
160. Const. P.D 1895/2011 Premier Industries Chemical v. Province of Sindh
161. Const. P.D 1775/2011 Messrs A.J. Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
162. Const. P.D 1994/2011 Messrs Saad Internationals v. Province of Sindh
163. Const. P.D 2068/2011 Tanveer Spinning and Weaving Mill v. Province of Sindh
164. Const. P.D 1877/2011 Nafeesa Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
165. Const. P.D 1845/2011 Messrs Hameeda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
166. Const. P.D 1878/2011 M/s. Asia Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
167. Const. P.D 1993/2011 Messrs Allah Ditta and Sons Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
168. Const. P.D 1810/2011 Zahra Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
169. Const. P.D 1816/2011 Messrs Fazal Cloth Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
170. Const. P.D 1886/2011 Messrs Acro Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
171. Const. P.D 1679/2011 N.P Spinnings Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
172. Const. P.D 1683/2011 Deewan Farooq Motors Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
173. Const. P.D 1760/2011 A&B Food Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
174. Const. P.D 1988/2011 Messrs Al Hashimi Brothers and Oil Industries Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
175. Const. P.D 1709/2011 Messrs Universal Leather (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
176. Const. P.D 1599/2011 Messrs Uniliver Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
177. Const. P.D 2062/2011 Messrs Arshad Textile Mills Ltd. Co. v. Province of Sindh
178. Const. P.D 1684/2011 Artistic Fabric Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
179. Const. P.D 1748/2011 ATS Systematic (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
180. Const. P.D 1708/2011 Mima Knit (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
181. Const. P.D 1765/2011 Nagina Cotton Mills v. Province of Sindh
182. Const. P.D 1836/2011 Transtech v. Province of Sindh
183. Const. P.D 3609/2011 Ever Fresh Farms (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
184. Const. P.D 1769/2011 Shadman Cotton Mills. v. Province of Sindh
185. Const. P.D 1935/2011 Messrs Kohinoor Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
186. Const. P.D 1768/2011 Messrs Idrees Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
187. Const. P.D 1917/2011 Messrs Mohsin Enterprises v. Province of Sindh
188. Const. P.D 1641/2011 Sapphire Fishing Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
189. Const. P.D 1874/2011 Bilal Fibre v. Province of Sindh
190. Const. P.D 1871/2011 Fashion Knit Industries v. Province of Sindh
191. Const. P.D 1834/2011 Yaqoot Oil Processing and Extracting v. Province of Sindh
192. Const. P.D 1897/2011 Zafar Fabric Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
193. Const. P.D 1774/2011 N P Cotton Mills v. Province of Sindh
194. Const. P.D 1749/2011 B.P.D Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
195. Const. P.D 1801/2011 Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
196. Const. P.D 1844/2011 Zakariya Enterprises v. Province of Sindh
197. Const. P.D 1846/2011 Ashraf Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
198. Const. P.D 1913/2011 Ayesha Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
199. Const. P.D 2090/2011 Yaqoot Traders v. Province of Sindh and others
200. Const. P.D 2077/2011 Messrs Saif Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
201. Const. P.D 1870/2011 Messrs Kamarl Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
202. Const. P.D 1989/2011 Messrs WR Edible Oil Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
203. Const. P.D 1755/2011 SA Trading Corporation Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
204. Const. P.D 1680/2011 Messrs Saritow Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
205. Const. P.D 1916/2011 SGM Sugar Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
206. Const. P.D 1847/2011 Messrs Agro Processors and Atmopheric Gases Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
207. Const. P.D 1807/2011 Messrs Khas Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
208. Const. P.D 1750/2011 Messrs Indus Dyeing and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
209. Const. P.D 1763/2011 Artistic Millinners (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
210. Const. P.D 1644/2011 Sapphire Power Generation Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
211. Const. P.D 1782/2011 Diamond International v. Province of Sindh
212. Const. P.D 1643/2011 Messrs Paramount Spinning Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh
213. Const. P.D 1772/2011 Messrs Ahmed Oriental Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
214. Const. P.D 1909/2011 Messrs Al-Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
215. Const. P.D 1987/2011 Messrs Farooq Oil Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
216. Const. P.D 1840/2011 Messrs Sadiq Vegetable Ghee Mill (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
217. Const. P.D 1914/2011 Messrs BNP Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
218. Const. P.D 1876/2011 Messrs Shafi Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
219. Const. P.D 1990/2011 Messrs Gul Shahzada Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
220. Const. P.D 1779/2011 Hussain Mills v. Province of Sindh
221. Const. P.D 1912/2011 Al Moiz Industries v. Province of Sindh
222. Const. P.D 1992/2011 Bhatti Traders v. Province of Sindh
223. Const. P.D 1777/2011 Messrs North Star Textile v. Province of Sindh
224. Const. P.D 1893/2011 Asian Food Industries v. Province of Sindh
225. Const. P.D 1722/2011 Lucky Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
226. Const. P.D 1843/2011 Messrs Khayaban Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
227. Const. P.D 2001/2011 Messrs Hamza Vegetable Oil Refinery and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) v. Province of Sindh
228. Const. P.D 1832/2011 Messrs Azhar Corporation (Pvt.) Limited v. Province of Sindh
229. Const. P.D 1712/2011 Messrs Sargodha Jute Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
230. Const. P.D 1758/2011 Messrs Soorty Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
231. Const. P.D 1688/2011 Artistic Garment Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
232. Const. P.D 1600/2011 Messrs Shell Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
233. Const. P.D 1719/2011 Fazal Textile Mills (Ltd.) v. Province of Sindh
234. Const. P.D 1720/2011 Gadoon Textile Mills (Ltd.) v. Province of Sindh
235. Const. P.D 1682/2011 Messrs Hantex v. Province of Sindh
236. Const. P.D 1663/2011 Messrs Associated Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
237. Const. P.D 1659/2011 Messrs Riaz Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
238. Const. P.D 2503/2011 Mehboob Steel Pipes v. Province of Sindh
239. Const. P.D 2044/2011 Messrs Sapphire Dairies (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
240. Const. P.D 2059/2011 Messrs Azgard Nine Limited v. Province of Sindh
241. Const. P.D 1841/2011 Messrs Tahir Amar Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
242. Const. P.D 1890/2011 Mayfair Limited v. Province of Sindh
243. Const. P.D 2118/2011 US Denim Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
244. Const. P.D 1839/2011 Abdul Majid v. Province of Sindh
245. Const. P.D 1872/2011 Kassim Textile v. Province of Sindh
246. Const. P.D 1848/2011 Hina Khurrum v. Province of Sindh
247. Const. P.D 1705/2011 Pakistan Vinyal Industries v. Province of Sindh
248. Const. P.D 1804/2011 Messrs Blessed Textiles Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
249. Const. P.D 1980/2011 Messrs Reliance Weaving Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
250. Const. P.D 1813/2011 Messrs Nisar Spinning Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh
251. Const. P.D 1645/2011 Messrs Reliance Cotton Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
252. Const. P.D 1838/2011 Messrs Muridke Refine Oil Mills v. Province of Sindh
253. Const. P.D 1835/2011 Messrs Iffco Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
254. Const. P.D 1898/2011 Messrs Colony Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh
255. Const. P.D 1466/2012 General Tyre and Rubber Co. Pakistan v. The Province of Sindh and others
256. Const. P.D 2570/2012 M/s. Nishat Dairy (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
257. Const. P.D 2697/2012 SPEC (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and others
258. Const. P.D 2879/2012 Mian Nazir Sons Ind v. Province of Sindh and others
259. Const. P.D 3001/2012 M/s. Suraj Cotton Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
260. Const. P.D 3002/2012 M/s. Shams Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
261. Const. P.D 3003/2012 M/s. Equity Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
262. Const. P.D 3653/2012 Messrs Karachi Tube Mills Pvt. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
263. Const. P.D 1351/2013 M/s. Kamal Textile Mills(Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
264. Const. P.D 138/2013 M/s. Nimir Chemicals v. Province of Sindh and others
265. Const. P.D 1786/2013 Digital World (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
266. Const. P.D 1787/2013 DWP Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
267. Const. P.D 2173/2013 Messrs Matco Rice Proceedings (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
268. Const. P.D 2623/2013 Messrs Aisha Steel Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh and others.
269. Const. P.D 3410/2013 Messrs Nishat Lines (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
270. Const. P.D 3424/2013 Messrs Fazal Weaving Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
271. Const. P.D 3712/2013 Messrs Shafi Taxcel Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
272. Const. P.D 3819/2013 Messrs K.K Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
273. Const. P.D 4028/2013 Messrs Masco Spinning Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
274. Const. P.D 4577/2013 Inter Loop Diaries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
275. Const. P.D 5197/2013 Messrs Ahmed Oil Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
276. Const. P.D 5198/2013 Messrs Plastiflex Films (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
277. Const. P.D 1010/2014 Messrs Mujahid Enterprises v. Province of Sindh and others
278. Const. P.D 1011/2014 Messrs Imran Yaqoob Ghee Inds v. Province of Sindh and others
279. Const. P.D 1066/2014 Messrs Commodity World v. Province Of Sindh and others
280. Const. P.D 1521/2014 Atlas Honda Ltd. v. Sindh and others
281. Const. P.D 1522/2014 Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
282. Const. P.D 1706/2014 Atlas Battery v. Sindh and others
283. Const. P.D 1707/2014 Atlas Hitec v. Sindh and others
284. Const. P.D 1708/2014 Atlas Engineering v. Sindh and others
285. Const. P.D 1709/2014 Atlas Autos v. Sindh and others
286. Const. P.D 1710/2014 Shirazi Trading and Co. v. Sindh and others
287. Const. P.D 2346/2014 Pak Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
288. Const. P.D 2552/2014 Messrs Atif Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
289. Const. P.D 2553/2014 Mirpur Oil and Ghee v. Province of Sindh and others
290. Const. P.D 2808/2014 Messrs Kamal Indutries v. Province of Sindh and others
291. Const. P.D 3544/2014 Honda Atlas Power Product v. Sindh and others
292. Const. P.D 3615/2014 Messrs Ideal Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
293. Const. P.D 3714/2014 Engro Elengy Terminal (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and others
294. Const. P.D 3923/2014 Sheikh Pipe Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
295. Const. P.D 3924/2014 Messrs Sheikh Engineering Co. v. Province of Sindh and others
296. Const. P.D 4341/2014 Messrs H.M Extraction Ghee and Oil Industries v. Province of Sindh and others
297. Const. P.D 4342/2014 Messrs Lal Ghee and Oil Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
298. Const. P.D 4352/2014 TRI-Pack Films Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
299. Const. P.D 4567/2014 Messrs Nishat Hotels and Properties Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
300. Const. P.D 4645/2014 Messrs Cresent Hadeed (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
301. Const. P.D 4733/2014 Messrs Pakgen Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
302. Const. P.D 4734/2014 Messrs Cherat Cement Co. v. Province of Sindh and otherss
303. Const. P.D 4735/2014 Messrs Lalpir Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
304. Const. P.D 5010/2014 Messrs HNR Co. v. Province of Sindh and others
305. Const. P.D 5067/2014 Messrs Salman Oil Ghee Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
306. Const. P.D 5068/2014 Messrs Pak Pertochemical Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
307. Const. P.D 5402/2014 Messrs Bhanero Energy Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
308. Const. P.D 5691/2014 Messrs Fahad Hamad Oil v. Province of Sindh and others
309. Const. P.D 6529/2014 Messrs Cresent Fibres Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
310. Const. P.D 778/2014 Messrs Al Karam Towel Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
311. Const. P.D 864/2014 Messrs Cherat Packaging Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
312. Const. P.D 98/2014 Messrs Olympia Textile Mills limited v. Province of Sindh and others
313. Const. P.D 1522/2015 Fatima Energy Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
314. Const. P.D 1653/2015 Siddiq Leather Work v. Province of Sindh and others
315. Const. P.D 1923/2015 Messrs NC Electric Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
316. Const. P.D 2029/2015 Messrs Syed Mohammad and Sons v. P.DO Sindh and others
317. Const. P.D 2049/2015 Messrs Sapphire Wind Power v. Province of Sindh and others
318. Const. P.D 2215/2015 Messrs Meezan Edible Oil v. Province of Sindh and others
319. Const. P.D 2216/2015 Messrs Mezan Te (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
320. Const. P.D 2349/2015 Messrs FKW Global Communication (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
321. Const. P.D 250/2015 Ms Load Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
322. Const. P.D 3081/2015 Messrs Huffaz Seamless Pipe v. Government of Sindh and others
323. Const. P.D 3208/2015 Messrs IIL Stainless Steel (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
324. Const. P.D 561/2015 Mushtaqim Dyeing and Printing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. P.DO Sindh and others
325. Const. P.D 601/2015 Hudson Pharma (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province Of Sindh and others
326. Const. P.D 6619/2015 Pak Arab Fertilizers and others v. Province of Sindh and others
327. Const. P.D 7779/2015 Thal Boshoku Pakistan v. Province of Sindh and others
328. Const. P.D 874/2015 Messrs Biotech Energy v. Province of Sindh and others
329. Const. P.D 2015/2016 Messrs Crescent Powertec Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
330. Const. P.D 2205/2016 Messrs Al-Momin Packaging v. Province of Sindh and others
331. Const. P.D 3655/2016 Messrs Nishat Commodities (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
332. Const. P.D 4032/2016 Messrs Hi-Tech Lubricants (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
333. Const. P.D 4033/2016 Messrs Hi-Tech Blending (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
334. Const. P.D 4335/2016 Messrs Maple Leaf Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
335. Const. P.D 5410/2016 Indus Motor Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
336. Const. P.D 5411/2016 Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
337. Const. P.D 5412/2016 Sapphire Fibres Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
338. Const. P.D 5413/2016 Amer Cotton Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
339. Const. P.D 5414/2016 Umer Farms (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
340. Const. P.D 5415/2016 Firhaj Footwear (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
341. Const. P.D 5416/2016 Faisal Spinning Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
342. Const. P.D 5417/2016 Bhanero Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
343. Const. P.D 5418/2016 Bhanero Energy Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
344. Const. P.D 5419/2016 Blessed Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
345. Const. P.D 5424/2016 Thal Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
346. Const. P.D 5463/2016 Artistic Fabric and Garment Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
347. Const. P.D 5607/2016 Messrs Kohinoor Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
348. Const. P.D 5661/2016 Messrs Rawat Oil and Ghee Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
349. Const. P.D 6085/2016 Messrs Sky Linker Business Chain v. Province of Sindh and others
350. Const. P.D 6086/2016 Messrs Royal Zone (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
351. Const. P.D 6152/2016 Messrs Utman Ghee Ind. v. Province of Sindh and others
352. Const. P.D 6153/2016 Messrs Pan Asia Food Products v. Province of Sindh and others
353. Const. P.D 6154/2016 Messrs Al-Makkah Oil Refinery v. Province of Sindh and others
354. Const. P.D 6234/2016 Messrs Nishat Agriculture Farming v. Province of Sindh and others
355. Const. P.D 6325/2016 Lucky Entertainment (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
356. Const. P.D 6326/2016 ICI Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
357. Const. P.D 6327/2016 Lucky Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
358. Const. P.D 6328/2016 Gadoon Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
359. Const. P.D 6487/2016 Lucky One (Pvt) Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
360. Const. P.D 6488/2016 Younus Textile Mills Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
361. Const. P.D 6489/2016 Lucky Energy (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
362. Const. P.D 6490/2016 Lucky Landmark (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
363. Const. P.D 1755/2017 Messrs Glaxy Rice Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
364. Const. P.D 2746/2017 Al-Muqeet Textiles (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
365. Const. P.D 275/2017 Messrs Lucky Knit (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
366. Const. P.D 347/2017 Tapal Tea (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
367. Const. P.D 6347/2017 EFert Agritrade (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
368. Const. P.D 643/2017 Shahbaz Garments (Pvt.) Ltd. and others v. Province of Sindh and others
369. Const. P.D 6500/2017 Messrs Amreli Steels Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
370. Const. P.D 6928/2017 Messrs Indus Motor Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
371. Const. P.D 7164/2017 Thal Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
372. Const. P.D 730/2017 Pakistan Aluminium Beverages Can Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
373. Const. P.D 765/2017 Messrs C.A Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
374. Const. P.D 8140/2017 National Foods Ltd. v. Sindh and others
375. Const. P.D 8358/2017 Abdul Hafeez Shafi Leather v. Province of Sindh and others
376. Const. P.D 8400/2017 Sargodha Jute Mills Ltd. v. Province of SIndh and others
377. Const. P.D 8401/2017 Shahzad Textile Mils Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
378. Const. P.D 8408/2017 Premier Textile Mills Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
379. Const. P.D 8448/2017 Packages Ltd. v. Sindh and others
380. Const. P.D 8449/2017 DIC Pakistan v. Sindh and others
381. Const. P.D 8450/2017 Bulleh Shah Packaging (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
382. Const. P.D 8491/2017 Messrs Liberty Power Tech Ltd. v. Sindh and others
383. Const. P.D 8492/2017 Messrs Libery Mills Ltd. v. Sindh and others
384. Const. P.D 8494/2017 M.A.K Automotive (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
385. Const. P.D 8511/2017 Engro Polymer and Chemicals Ltd. v. Sindh and others
386. Const. P.D 8676/2017 Tri-Pack Films Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
387. Const. P.D 8750/2017 Messrs Trade Ocean International v. Province of Sindh and others
388. Const. P.D 8752/2017 Advance Telecom v. Province of SIndh and others
389. Const. P.D 8817/2017 Margalla Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
390. Const. P.D 8818/2017 Olympia Blended Fibre Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
391. Const. P.D 8819/2017 Jamhoor Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
392. Const. P.D 8820/2017 Rawal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
393. Const. P.D 8821/2017 The Lahore Textile and General Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
394. Const. P.D 8822/2017 Tribal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
395. Const. P.D 7613/2017 Atlas Honda Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
396. Const. P.D 7614/2017 Atlas Battery Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
397. Const. P.D 7615/2017 Atlas Engineering Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
398. Const. P.D 7616/2017 Atlas Metal (Pvt.) Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
399. Const. P.D 1075/2018 Shamim uddin Ahmed and others v. POS and others
400. Const. P.D 1265/2018 Engro Foods Ltd. v. Sindh and others
401. Const. P.D 2984/2018 Messrs Krystopac Energy (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
402. Const. P.D 3265/2018 Pakistan Cables Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
403. Const. P.D 3267/2018 Messrs Trade Ocean International v. Province of Sindh and others
404. Const. P.D 345/2018 Munib Abdul Rauf v. Province of Sindh and others
405. Const. P.D 3942/2018 Messrs Krystalite Products (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
406. Const. P.D 442/2018 Messrs Agar Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
407. Const. P.D 5003/2018 Messrs Kausar Ghee Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
408. Const. P.D 5235/2018 KIA Lucky Motors Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
409. Const. P.D 5605/2018 Messrs A.K Oil and Ghee v. Province of Sindh and others
410. Const. P.D 7698/2018 IL Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
411. Const. P.D 7728/2018 Saleem Memorial Trust Hospital v. Province of Sindh and others
412. Const. P.D 8321/2018 Memon Motors (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
413. Const. P.D 8345/2018 Messrs Kashmir Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
414. Const. P.D 8764/2018 Messrs Marclum Ind (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
415. Const. P.D 877/2018 REckitt Benckiser Pakistan Ltd. v. Sindh and others
416. Const. P.D 1067/2019 Messrs International Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
417. Const. P.D 1462/2019 Messrs Salim Winding Works and others v. Province of Sindh and others
418. Const. P.D 1629/2019 Messrs Lucky Electric Power Company Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
419. Const. P.D 2028/2019 Messrs ASCO International (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
420. Const. P.D 2607/2019 PSO Co. Ltd. v. Sindh and others
421. Const. P.D 2666/2019 Messrs AAA Plastc v. Province of Sindh and others
422. Const. P.D 37/2019 AlKaram Textile Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
423. Const. P.D 4258/2019 Messrs G- Pac Engergy (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
424. Const. P.D 4334/2019 Messrs Hyundai Nishat Motors (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
425. Const. P.D 4335/2019 Messrs Digital Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
426. Const. P.D 4374/2019 Power Cement Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
427. Const. P.D 5149/2019 Messrs Platinum Agro Oil and Ghee Ind (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
428. Const. P.D 5442/2019 Ms Bara Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
429. Const. P.D 5540/2019 Messrs Universal Tube Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
430. Const. P.D 5611/2019 US and Dynamo Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
431. Const. P.D 5886/2019 Messrs H.Sheikh Noor ud Din and Sons (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
432. Const. P.D 6129/2019 Messrs Kohinoor Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
433. Const. P.D 700/2019 Messrs Naveena Steel Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
434. Const. P.D 7293/2019 Engro Peroxide (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
435. Const. P.D 7485/2019 Messrs Lucky Commodities (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
436. Const. P.D 7532/2019 Messrs Garibsons (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
437. Const. P.D 7569/2019 Messrs Hascol Petroelum Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
438. Const. P.D 7814/2019 Olympia (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
439. Const. P.D 8023/2019 Messrs J.B Ind v. Province of Sindh and others
440. Const. P.D 8519/2019 Qasim International Container Terminal Pak Ltd. v. Sindh and others
441. Const. P.D 1261/2020 Zahidjee Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
442. Const. P.D 1286/2020 OTO Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
443. Const. P.D 1311/2020 PSO Co. Ltd. v. Sindh and others
444. Const. P.D 137/2020 Messrs SS Fashion Resources v. Federation of Pakistan and others
445. Const. P.D 181/2020 Messrs Megna Processing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
446. Const. P.D 182/2020 Messrs Megna Textile Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
447. Const. P.D 2601/2020 Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan v. Sindh and others
448. Const. P.D 2793/2020 Messrs Artistic Fabric Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
449. Const. P.D 3038/2020 Messrs AR Sovent and Ghee Ind. Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
450. Const. P.D 3039/2020 Messrs Gul Shahzad Steel Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
451. Const. P.D 3040/2020 Messrs Maqboolo Plastic Ind. v. Province of Sindh and others
452. Const. P.D 3041/2020 SB Steel Metal and Pipe Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
453. Const. P.D 3261/2020 Aisha Steel Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
454. Const. P.D 3303/2020 Messrs Fatima Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
455. Const. P.D 3304/2020 Messrs Gul Edible Oil Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
456. Const. P.D 3419/2020 Messrs Management Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
457. Const. P.D 3593/2020 Archroma Pakistan Ltd. v. Sindh and others
458. Const. P.D 3652/2020 Atlas D.I.D (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
459. Const. P.D 3653/2020 Atlas GCI (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
460. Const. P.D 3993/2020 Messrs Ocean Plastic and Metal Solution (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
461. Const. P.D 4089/2020 Messrs Win Pipe Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
462. Const. P.D 4090/2020 Messrs Unity Foods Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
463. Const. P.D 4404/2020 Messrs S T Cold Rolling v. Province of Sindh and others
464. Const. P.D 543/2020 PSO Co. Ltd. v. Sindh and others
465. Const. P.D 5796/2020 Messrs Dalda Food Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
466. Const. P.D 5797/2020 Messrs Oil Processor of Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
467. Const. P.D 5990/2020 Exceed Petroleum (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
468. Const. P.D 6071/2020 Messrs Master Motors Corp v. Province of Sindh and others
469. Const. P.D 6215/2020 Messrs Hi Tech Lubricants Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
470. Const. P.D 6222/2020 Messrs Roomi Fabrics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
471. Const. P.D 6223/2020 Messrs Mahmood Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
472. Const. P.D 6224/2020 Messrs Masood Fabrics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
473. Const. P.D 6225/2020 Maqsod Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh others
474. Const. P.D 6245/2020 Messrs Pakistan Synthetics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
475. Const. P.D 6246/2020 Messrs Amna Industries v. Province of Sindh and others
476. Const. P.D 800/2020 Be Energy Ltd. v. Sindh and Others
477. Const. P.D 801/2020 Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd. v. Sindh and others
478. Const. P.D 97/2020 Printkraft (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
479. Const. P.D 98/2020 IRC Dairy Product (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
480. Const. P.D 1098/2021 Bismillah Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
481. Const. P.D 1171/2021 Tufail Chemicals Ind and others v. Province of Sindh and Others
482. Const. P.D 1205/2021 Oncogen Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
483. Const. P.D 1421/2021 Shafi Agro (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
484. Const. P.D 1459/2021 Inovi Telecom (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
485. Const. P.D 442/2021 Service Long March Tyres (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
486. Const. P.D 660/2021 Messrs Fimcotex Ind (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
Judgment & Decree
MUHAMMAD JUNAID GHAFAR, J.
This Petition along with Petitions as mentioned in Annexure "A" to this Judgment involve an identical legal issue and are therefore, being decided through this common Judgment. The Petitioners have impugned a levy known as Infrastructure fee / Cess imposed by the Province of Sindh through Sindh Finance Act, 1994 and its subsequent versions including the final version i.e. Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act, 2017, on the ground that it is ultra vires to the Constitution and beyond the competence of the Provincial Legislature. All Petitioners before us are Importers of various goods and are aggrieved with the impugned levy being demanded and collected on such goods before their release from the Customs jurisdiction either at Sea Port(s) or Airport.
2. Learned Counsel for the Petitioners1 have contended that the impugned levy is beyond the legislative competence of the Provincial legislature as it has no authority under the Constitution to levy a fee or cess on imports and exports into the Province from or for outside the country; that in all (7) seven versions of the law, the instance of the impugned levy is on goods entering or leaving the Province from or for outside the country through Air or Sea, whereas, after three versions while enacting the fourth version, the law was changed by insertion of additional purpose of the levy through insertion of words, "the smooth and safer movement of goods", however, it still remains a levy on the import and export of goods which falls within the legislative competence of the Federal Legislature; that the nature and character of the impugned levy is to be determined on the basis of the taxable event which in the instant matter is the import and export of the goods into the and out of the Province from outside the country; that this taxable event is directly covered through Entries 24,2 27,3 and 434 of the Federal Legislative List under the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution; hence, the Province does not have any authority to impose this levy; that in accordance with the Article 142 of the Constitution, it is only the Federation which has the exclusive legislative competence in respect of the matters enumerated in these Entries; that Customs Duties have been levied through the Customs Act, 1969 on the import and export of the goods into and outside the country; hence, the impugned levy is beyond the competence of the Provincial legislature as it amounts to encroaching upon the legislative competence of the Federation; that it is settled law that entries in the legislative list are to be construed in a widest possible manner and not in a narrow, restricted or pedantic manner; that the Province of Baluchistan had also imposed a similar Infra-structure Cess through Baluchistan Infrastructure Development Cess Act, 2019 which has been declared ultra vires5; that the impugned levy is nothing but a Customs duty which is confirmed by way and in the manner, in which it has been levied and is calculated i.e. on the value of goods as assessed by the Customs Authorities; that insertion of additional levy of 1 paisa per kilometer through subsequent versions is irrelevant and is an attempt to cure an unconstitutional imposition of the levy; that it is a colorable exercise of legislation and impinges upon the powers of the Federation; that it is settled law that measure of levy imposed has a nexus with the nature of levy; that even otherwise, the impugned levy discriminates between locally manufactured goods as against the Petitioners imported and exported goods; that as to various attempts of re-validating the earlier versions, it is settled law that such an attempt cannot nullify the judgments of this Court without removing the defects in law pointed out by the Court in its earlier judgments; that the subsequent Acts / Ordinances do not remove any of the defects pointed out by this Hon'ble Court including that the cess is still imposed on the import and export of the goods; that it is still calculated primarily on the value of the goods which has no nexus with the nature and character of the levy; that even if it is assumed that this cess was a fee, no services are being provided in return; that the subsequent amendments including the 2017 Act, cannot be given retrospective effect as the charging section does not provides for any such effect; that without prejudice, as to the first four versions of law, it is a matter of past and closed transaction which cannot be reopened as this Court has already declared the first four versions of the impugned levy as ultra vires against which the Appeal before the Hon'ble Supreme Court stands withdrawn, and therefore, to that extent the demand of the impugned levy on the basis of the first four versions of the law is illegal and beyond the power and authority of the Province. They have relied upon numerous reported cases6 in support of their plea.
3. Mr. Farooq H. Naek Advocate appearing on behalf of Excise and Taxation Department due to his illness has not been able to argue in person; but has filed written arguments, copies of which were also supplied to the Petitioner's Counsel. According to him, the Petitions are not maintainable as the Petitioners have not challenged the vires of law in question as being violative of any provision of the Constitution; that the Province of Sindh has the prerogative to levy tax, duty, fee and cess for the benefit of its infrastructure which is within the legislative competence of the Province and neither it is violative of any rights guaranteed under the Constitution; nor transgresses the limitation imposed by Article 155 of the Constitution; that even otherwise, the bar as contained in Article 151 ibid is also not attracted as imposition of tax in itself is not a restriction on freedom of trade and commerce between the Provinces, whereas, the impugned levy is for the betterment of the infrastructure of the Province as a whole and would contribute to the efficiency of trade and commerce; that the subject of impugned legislation (all versions) is not covered or hit by any item either in the Federal or in the Concurrent Legislative List; that the Provincial legislature enjoys exclusive legislative authority on the subject matter in terms of Article 142 (c) of the Constitution; that it is neither a customs duty which is levied by the Federation under entry 43 of Part 1 of the Federal Legislative List; nor the levy in question is a tax on import or export and in fact it is a levy on imported goods which are being transported within the country by road using infrastructure of the Province; that reliance on entry No. 24 of the Federal Legislative List is misconceived as it is about carriage of goods by sea or air, and does not include carriage of goods by road; hence, levy of infrastructure cess on carriage of goods by road is a Provincial subject and within the competence of the Provincial legislature; that notwithstanding the judgments of this Court in respect of earlier versions, subsequently, the law has been amended and lastly through Sindh Finance Act, 2009 and the 2017 Act, which has given retrospective effect to all such amendments; hence, the defect, if any, also stands cured; that levy of this cess is not discriminatory as it is charged on standard basis pursuant to a Schedule annexed with the Act and is applicable on a certain class i.e. importers and exporters. He has sought support from various reported cases7.
4. Learned Advocate General on Court notice issued in terms of Order 27A of the Civil Procedure Code has argued that judgment of the Appellate Court in Sanofi Aventis8 to the extent of first four versions of law is no more in field after promulgation of subsequent Ordinances and Act retrospectively, and as a consequence thereof, the judgment in Quetta Textile9 is still in field through which the impugned law / levy was held to be intra vires, whereas, Entry 24 of the Federal Legislative List does not cover the word "Road"; hence, the Province is competent to legislate on this subject.
5. We have heard all the learned Counsel as well as learned Advocate General Sindh and have perused the record. It appears that the impugned levy was introduced for the first time by the Province of Sindh in the year 1994 through Sections 9 and 10 of the Sindh Finance Act, 1994 which came into effect from 01.07.1994 (first version)10 and pursuant to this Act on 22.08.1994 Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Fee Rules, 1994 were notified, which provided the rates11, quantification, assessment, appeal and revision. Subsequently, through Section 5 of the Sindh Finance Act, 1996, Section 9 of the 1994 Act was substituted (second version)12.
6. The above levy was then challenged by a number of aggrieved parties through Constitutional Petitions as well as Civil Suits. A learned Single Judge of this Court in the case reported as H. A. Rahim (Pvt.) Ltd. (supra) was pleased to decree the Suits by declaring the infrastructure fee as unconstitutional and ultra vires. The said judgment was then impugned through a time barred High Court Appeal No. 33/2001 by the Province of Sindh and during its pendency Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 dated 24.02.2001 was promulgated and an attempt was made to annul the judgment of the learned Single Judge by changing the nomenclature of the impugned levy from infrastructure fee to infrastructure cess with addition of a revalidation clause. The pending Petitions were then dismissed as infructuous in view of promulgation of the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (third version) as above, by permitting the aggrieved parties to challenge or impugn the validity of the same by filing fresh cases. Insofar as High Court Appeal No. 33/2001 was concerned, the delay in filing of the same was though condoned; but the Advocate General filed a statement to the effect that in view of Amendment Ordinance, 2001 his Appeal has become infructuous and he no longer wishes to press the same. On such statement, the Appeal was disposed of. Thereafter, in this backdrop various Suits were filed in this Court on the Original Side challenging the vires of Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 200113. Thereafter when these Suits were pending, fourth version of the law was introduced through Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 on 15.05.2001 which was made effective retrospectively from 24.02.2001 through which various amendments were made in the Sindh Finance Act, 199414.
7. At this point of time, there were in effect four versions of the impugned levy / law which were in field and the pending Suits were then heard and decided by a learned Single Judge of this Court whereby, all the Suits were dismissed in the case of Quetta Textile (Supra). The said judgment was impugned by way of High Court Appeals and a learned Division Bench of this Court in Sanofi Aventis (Supra) decided the Appeals in favour of the litigants to the extent that the first three versions of the law were in fact an imposition on the import and export and for that the Province of Sindh had no authority or jurisdiction; hence, it was ultra vires and unconstitutional. It was further held that insofar as the fourth version is concerned, it had no nexus with the nature and character of the levy and was also struck down; however, during pendency of the Appeals, a fifth version was also promulgated by way of Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance 200615 on 29.12.2006 and notwithstanding that it was never under challenge, either in the original Suits (in fact it could not have been as the Suit were much earlier in time) nor in the Appeals by way of any formal amendment of the pleadings; but at the request and consent of the Counsel for the Province of Sindh, was permitted to be challenged through verbal arguments. The learned Division Bench while deciding Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fifth version, came to the conclusion that it was intra vires to the Constitution and the previous shortcomings and defects in the legislation in respect of discrimination and the measurement of the levy had been cured, and therefore, it was upheld. It may also be of relevance to observe that though in Sanofi Aventis the fifth version was upheld; but it had been re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2007 on 24.10.2007 made effective from 28.3.2007; however, the judgment deals with the Ordinance, 2006, with a categorical finding that it is neither retrospective in nature nor it is applicable to past and closed transactions and section 1(2) of 2006 Ordinance confirms that it shall be enforceable at once, i.e. from the date of its promulgation, being prospective and not retrospective16.
8. The Province of Sindh as well as the litigants being aggrieved preferred Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The litigants impugned the judgment to the extent of the findings in relation to the fifth version, whereas, the Province impugned the same to the extent of the judgment in respect of the first four versions. On 17.05.2011 the Counsel for the Province of Sindh withdrew the Appeals on the ground that he has been instructed by the Government of Sindh not to press these Appeals as subsequent amendments have been made which are retrospectively applicable, and therefore, the entire case of the Government of Sindh would be dependent upon the result of the Appeals of the private persons. The said order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 17.05.2011 reads as under: - "Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry, C.J.- Mr. Fakhar-ud-Din G. Ibrahim, learned Sr. ASC states that he has been instructed by the Government of Sindh not to press the above listed appeals. Further that the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 ratified into the Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007), was further amended by the Sindh Finance Act, 2009 to make the same retrospectively applicable. And therefore the entire case of Government of Sindh would depend upon the result of the appeals of the private persons arising out of the impugned judgment wherein following operative para of the judgment has been challenged: - "(b) the fifth version of law i.e. the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 is valid and hence the levy imposed and collected from the effective date of the fifth version i.e. 28.12.2006 is valid and all imposition and collection before such date are declared to be invalid;"
2. In view of the above prayer of the learned Sr. ASC appearing for Government of Sindh, the above listed appeals are dismissed as not pressed."
9. Similarly, insofar as the Appeals filed by the private parties were concerned, though they were argued on certain dates; however, on 20.05.2011 pursuant to a joint statement filed by the respective Counsel for the contesting parties the said Appeals were also disposed of in the following terms: - "Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry, C.J.- Learned Counsel for the parties after having addressed arguments at length were enquired / required to satisfy that in absence of specific challenge to 5th version of the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, (Sindh Ordinance No. XXXVIII of 2006), re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007) whether it was legally possible for the learned High Court to decide the appeals arising out of the judgment dated 28.10.2003 passed by a learned Single Judge whereby civil suits filed by the parties were disposed of.
2. It is to be noted that instant proceedings have arisen out of a civil suit instituted by the appellants wherein the first, second, third and fourth version of the law mentioned hereinabove were challenged, but so far fifth version is concerned, it was promulgated when the appeals before the High Court were pending, therefore, it had become necessary to amend the pleadings and challenged the same because of a number of differences in the earlier versions and re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007). Had the matter arisen between the parties out of petition under Article 199 or any other relevant provisions, perhaps, the High Court may have allowed the parties to argue their case as to the developments taking place during pendency of the lis, but when there was a suit on the basis of pleadings, in our considered opinion amendment of the pleadings was necessary and if any concessional statement on the issue was given by the learned counsel for the respondents the same was not admissible under the law. On this learned counsel for the parties discussed the said issue and filed the following joint statement: "Joint statement By consent the subject appeals may be disposed of in the following terms:
1. The subject appeals all challenge inter alia the judgments of the learned single judge as well as the division bench of the Honorable High Court of Sindh at Karachi whereby the fifth version of the impugned law in question introduced vide Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, (No. XXXVIII of 2006), re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007) was upheld and the fourth version of the impugned law in question introduced vide the Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 (XVI of 2001) was upheld to the extent of legislative competence.
2. That notwithstanding the concessional statement to the effect that no formal challenge would be required having been made by the then learned counsel appearing then for the Government of Sindh, this Honorable Court may kindly be pleased to set aside the impugned orders, judgments, decrees passed by the courts below to the extent noted above. (Emphasis supplied)
3. The appellants will be at liberty to challenge any / all versions of the levy on infrastructure with which the appellants are aggrieved. It is therefore, prayed that all the appeals be disposed of in the above terms."
3. Mr. Makhdoom Ali Khan, learned counsel for the appellant's states that Mr. Khalid Anwar, learned Sr. ASC, who is not available today in Islamabad, has instructed him to file statement on his behalf and that such instructions have been taken on telephone.
4. As a result of above Joint Statement (Arrangement between the parties) the impugned judgments along with the interim order already passed on 27.10.2008, etc. whereby the parties were directed to maintain status quo, are set aside with all the legal consequences legally to be followed after vacating the said order. The appellants in terms of above arrangement, however, shall be free to challenge any or all versions of levy on infrastructure with which they feel aggrieved save in accordance with law.
5. All the appeals are disposed of in the above terms. Parties are left to bear their own costs."
10. Insofar as the case of the present Petitioners is concerned, it has been argued that since the Government of Sindh had withdrawn its Appeals and the said withdrawal was dependent upon the outcome of the Appeals filed by the private parties which were then disposed of through a joint statement which was only to the extent of the fourth version (only the legislative competence) and the fifth version; therefore, insofar as the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis is concerned, the same is now a case of past and closed transaction, whereby, the first four versions of the impugned levy were struck down. On the other hand, the case of Province of Sindh is that since the subsequent Amending Ordinance i.e. Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, (No. XXXVIII of 2006), re-enacted through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finance Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007) and Sindh Finance Act, 2009 were made applicable retrospectively, whereas, a revalidation clause was also promulgated; therefore, the effect of the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis is no more in field. On perusal of the record and the orders passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the respective Appeals of the parties, we are of the considered view that the stance of the present Petitioners appears to be correct to a certain extent. It is to be noted that it was the Province of Sindh which first withdrew its Appeals, and the said order very clearly reflects that it is being done on the instructions of the Government of Sindh i.e. not to press the Appeals. It has been recorded that the entire case of the Government of Sindh would be dependent upon the result of the Appeals of the private persons, whereas, despite a statement of their Counsel regarding enactment of subsequent legislation retrospectively, the final order of the Hon'ble Supreme Court is only a simplicitor withdrawal of the Appeals filed by the Province. It was observed that in view of above prayer of the learned Senior Advocate appearing for the Government of Sindh the Appeals are dismissed as not pressed. It has neither remanded the matter nor has asked the Appellate Court to decide it afresh after examining the Re-validation clause and retrospective effect of the enactments as contended by their Counsel. Admittedly the private parties had only challenged the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fourth version in respect of legislative competence, and the entire fifth version of the law. On the other hand, the Appeals of the aggrieved parties were disposed of on the basis of a joint statement which was only in respect of the fourth version (partly) and the fifth version of the law. In our considered view, the entire case of the Province to the extent of their Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court was (i) that it withdrew its Appeals merely on the ground that subsequent legislation had been made or enacted, and that satisfies them to withdraw their Appeals; and (ii) it was also dependent on the outcome of the Appeals of the private persons. When the two orders as above are read in juxtaposition to arrive at a fair conclusion, it appears that insofar as the subsequent Amending Ordinance of 2006, The 2007 Act and the 2009 Act, and its retrospective applicability is concerned, it was never touched upon by the Hon'ble Supreme Court; nor was it remanded to the Appellate Court for any adjudication. It was just merely a statement of the learned Advocate for the Province of Sindh; but in effect, there was no conclusive finding by the Hon'ble Supreme Court that as to what would be the effect of these Amending Ordinance / Act through which the same were purportedly made applicable retrospectively. The aggrieved party was left to challenge it (i.e. the fifth version or any other version) and naturally they would only challenge what is against them. At that point of time it was only the fifth version which they could have challenged and not the first four versions in respect of which Sanofi Aventis had decided it in their favor (barring the legislative competence in respect of the fourth version). Similarly, when the joint statement filed in the Appeals of the private parties is examined, it appears to be filed by consent and it clearly reflects that it was only to the effect of setting aside the impugned judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the fourth version in respect of its legislative competence and the fifth version. And this arrangement was apparently arrived at because before the High Court the fifth version was permitted to be impugned on a verbal concession of the Counsel then appearing for the Province of Sindh without a formal amendment of the pleadings. It was also observed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the order date 20.5.2011 that these proceedings had arisen out of a civil suit instituted by the appellants wherein the first, second, third and fourth version of the law mentioned hereinabove were challenged, but so far the fifth version is concerned, it was promulgated when the Appeals before the High Court were pending, therefore, it had become necessary to amend the pleadings and challenge the same because of a number of differences in the earlier versions and re-enactment through Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 (No. XX of 2007) and then ratified through Sindh Finances Amendment Act, 2007 (No. II of 2007). It was further observed that had the matter arisen between the parties out of petition under Article 199 or any other relevant provisions, perhaps, the High Court may have allowed the parties to argue their case as to the developments which took place during pendency of the lis, but when there was a suit on the basis of pleadings, in our considered opinion amendment of the pleadings was necessary and if any concessional statement on the issue was given by the learned counsel for the respondents the same was not admissible under the law. It appears that on this observation, the parties filed a joint statement for disposal of the said set of Appeals. Even otherwise, after withdrawal of the Appeals filed by the Government of Sindh it could not be presumed that the private parties would agree for setting aside of the entire judgment even to the extent of the first four versions which was in their favour. Therefore, in our considered view and insofar as the present position is concerned, the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of the first four versions of the impugned levy has attained finality and for the present purposes we are not required to examine the validity of these four versions any further, on the ground that thereafter an Amending Ordinance in 2006 and the 2009 Act had been promulgated. It could have only been done in the pending Appeals if the Province of Sindh had not withdrawn their appeals simplicitor; and if it had sought a disposal order by remanding the matter to the Appellate Court on this touchstone that the subsequent Amending Ordinances / Act, have been given effect retrospectively and had also in effect nullified the impugned judgment; the Appeals be heard afresh. This was never their case. In fact, the court in Sanofi Aventis while considering the effect of Amendment Ordinance, 2006, had clearly observed that the fifth version was prospective in nature as it was effective from the date of its promulgation. Though at that point of time Sindh Finance Act, 2007 (Sindh Act No. II of 2007) had also been passed through which it was given effect from 28.3.2007 and had also repealed Amendment Ordinance, 2006; however, it was not considered by the learned Bench in the case of Sanofi Aventis. Moreover, it was only in the sixth version in 2009 that it was given effect from the date of introduction of the levy through Sindh Finance Act, 1994 i.e. 1.7.1994.
11. The upshot of the above discussion is that the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis to the extent of validity or otherwise of the first four versions of the law in question is concerned, it has attained finality as the Province of Sindh had withdrawn its Appeals to that extent without seeking any remand of the matter to the same Appellate Court. This includes the question of any retrospective applicability of the Amending laws i.e. the fifth version onwards. However, since it was arising out of proceedings initiated by way of a Civil Suit between the parties, it is only applicable to the inter-parties who were before the Court at the original stage by way of Suits in Quetta Textile and then in Appeals in Sanofi Aventis and not in rem to all.
12. Alternatively, even if we assume for a moment that the stance of the Province before the Hon'ble Supreme Court was justified to the extent that since subsequently after pronouncement of judgment in Sanofi Aventis an amending law "The Sindh Finance Act, 2009" had been passed retrospectively; hence, the Appeals were necessarily ought to have been withdrawn. However, at the very outset (and discussed in detail hereinafter) we may point out that the Sindh Finance Act, 2009, was never a law which had anything to do with undoing the judgment in Sanofi Aventis. Nonetheless the validity of such amending and validation clauses even otherwise cannot ipso-facto invalidate the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis. Such amending and or Re-validation law still has to pass the test of settled law in this context. We notwithstanding our above findings will even examine such Re-validation which purportedly as per the Respondents case has undone the effect of the judgment in Sanofi Aventis. It may be recalled that when the judgment in Sanofi Aventis was passed, four versions of law were already in challenge and all had been declared as ultra vires. The fifth version came during pendency of the Appeal and its vires were permitted to be impugned verbally by way of arguments. And while the Appeal of the Province was pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, The Sindh Finance Act, 2009 was promulgated and the Appeals were not pressed. Now on a holistic examination of the same we do not see as to how the stance of the Province is justified that the amending Ordinance and or law as well the re-validation clauses have undone the effect of the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis. Though it is a well settled principle that effect of a judgment rendered by a competent Court of law declaring any provision of law as ultra vires or declaring levy of a tax as illegal can be undone; however, it is also well settled that it can only be done if the grounds of illegality or invalidity are capable of being removed and are in fact removed. This Court in several cases has recognized the right of the legislature to re-enact a law on the same subject, which on account of legal infirmities in its enactment process had been declared invalid by a Court of law, by removing the causes that led to its invalidity. The legislature is also competent to make the re-enacted law applicable retrospectively in order to bind even the past transactions that had been declared invalid
17. But at the same time it is also well settled that when a legislature intend to validate a tax declared by a Court to be illegally collected under an invalid law, the cause for ineffectiveness or invalidity must be removed before the validation can be said to take place effectively and it will not be sufficient merely to pronounce in the statute by means of a non-obstinate clause that the decision of the Court shall not bind the authority, because that will amount to reversing a judicial decision rendered in exercise of the judicial power, which is not within the domain of the Legislature. It is therefore necessary that the conditions on which the decision of the Court intended to be avoided is based, must be altered so fundamentally, that the decision would not any longer be applicable to the altered circumstances. The seminal judgment in this regard is of Molasses Trading18 wherein the issue was that to undo the effect of judgment rendered in the case of Al-Samrez Enterprises19 by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, section 31A in the Customs Act, 1969 was introduced and an attempt was made to give the amendment a retrospective effect. However, in Molasses Trading20 it was held that despite such an attempt the insertion of section 31A did not have an effect on the past and closed transactions. The pertinent observation is as under: "Before considering this question it would be appropriate to make certain general observations with regard to the power of validation possessed by the legislature in the domain of taxing statute. It has been held that when a legislature intend to validate a tax declared by a Court to be illegally collected under an invalid law, the cause for ineffectiveness or invalidity must be removed before the validation can be said to take place effectively. It will not be sufficient merely to pronounce in the statute by means of a non-obstinate clause that the decision of the Court shall not bind the authority, because that will amount to reversing a judicial decision rendered in exercise of the judicial power, which is not within the domain of the Legislature. It is therefore necessary that the conditions on which the decision of the Court intended to be avoided is based, must be altered so fundamentally, that the decision would not any longer be applicable to the altered circumstances. One of the accepted modes of achieving this object by the Legislature is to re-enact retrospectively a valid and legal taxing provision, and adopting the fiction to make the tax already collected to stand under the re-enacted law. The Legislature can even give its own meaning and interpretation of the law under which the tax was collected and by 'legislative fiat' make the new meaning biding upon Court. It is in one of these ways that the Legislature can neutralize the earlier decision of the Court. The Legislature has within the bound of the Constitutional Limitation the power to make such a law and give it retrospective effect so as to bind even past transaction. In ultimate analysis therefore a primary test of validating piece of legislation is whether the new provision removes the defect, which the Court had found in the existing law, and whether adequate provisions in the validating law for a valid imposition of tax were made." It was further held that vested rights cannot be taken away save by express words or necessary intendment in the statute; that Legislature, which is competent to make a law, has full plenary powers within its sphere of operation to legislate retrospectively or retroactively; that vested right can be taken away by a retrospective/retroactive legislation and such legislation cannot be struck down on that ground; that Statute cannot be read in such a way as to change accrued rights, the title to which consists in transactions past and closed or any facts or events that have already occurred; that when a statute contemplates that a state of affairs should be deemed to have existed, it clearly proceeds on the assumption that in fact it did not exist at the relevant time but by a legal fiction Court has to assume as if it did exist; that when a statute enacts that something shall be deemed to have been done which in fact and in truth was not done, the Court is entitled and bound to ascertain for what purpose and between what persons the statutory fiction is to be resorted to. It is a well-settled principle of interpretation that there is a strong presumption against the retrospectivity of a legislation which touches or destroys the vested rights of the parties. No doubt the Legislature is competent to give retrospective effect to an Act and can also take away the vested rights of the parties, but to provide for such consequences, the Legislature must use words which are clear, unambiguous and are not capable of any other interpretation or such interpretation follows as a necessary implication from the words used in the enactment. Therefore, while construing a legislation which has been given retrospective effect and interferes with the vested rights of the parties, the words used therein must be construed strictly and no case should be allowed to fall within the letter and spirit of Act which is not covered by the plain language of the legislation21.
13. While keeping in view the above dicta when the issue in hand and the purported retrospective legislation is looked into, it appears that it fails the above test miserably. As would be recalled the Appeals before the Hon'ble Supreme Court were withdrawn on the ground that Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 ratified into the Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007), and further amended by the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 200922 has made the impugned levy retrospectively applicable. But apparently this does not suffice in any manner. The Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006 dated 28.12.2006 provided that it shall come into effect at once. This means that it is effective from 28.12.2006. This ends the matter here. And this is what has been held in Sanofi Aventis. Thereafter Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007) was promulgated on 24.10.2007 and stated that it shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from 28.3.2007. Again it had no retrospective effect so as to cure any past defects in the law except that it was made applicable from 28.3.2007 though it was issued on 24.10.2007. Finally Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2009 was promulgated on 23.2.2009 and provided that the Sindh Finance Act (Act No. II of 2007) be amended and shall be deemed to have been amended with effect from 1.7.1994. The other amendments made are not of relevance for the present purposes. It is to be noted that Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2009 was promulgated on 23.2.2009 i.e. after judgment was delivered on 17.9.2008 in the case of Sanofi Aventis; however, neither any retrospective purposeful legislation was made; nor any attempt was made to undo the judgment in Sanofi Aventis; but surprisingly the Appeals were not pressed before the Hon'ble Supreme Court by stating that some retrospective legislation had been made. It may also be noted that the curative or otherwise re-validation laws that were stated to have been in field at the time of withdrawal of the Appeals by the Province had got nothing to do with their Appeals at least, as the fifth version had already been held to be intra vires in Sanofi Aventis. When we examine the relevant provisions in question on the touchstone of law settled by the Hon'ble Supreme Court from time to time including that in Molasses Trading, we are undoubtedly of the view that the suggested amendments as above have failed to cure any defect in the legislation; at least to the extent of the first four versions of the law between the parties in litigation till Sanofi Aventis was delivered. Neither there is any deeming clause in the 2009 Act; nor it caters or even mentions the judgment; nor has a non-obstante clause; except some retrospective effect. That may be good for those who had not challenged the levy from the outset; however, this would not be applicable to the parties who already had a judgment in their favor i.e Sanofi Aventis. It need not be reiterated that when a statute enacts that something shall be deemed to have been done which in fact and in truth was not done, the Court is entitled and bound to ascertain for what purposes and between what persons the statutory fiction is to be resorted to
23. It would require language much more explicit than that which is to be found in Ordinance, 2009, to justify a Court of law in holding that a legislative body intended not merely to alter the law, but to alter it so as to deprive a litigant of a judgment rightly given and still subsisting24.
14. Therefore, from the above discussion it can be safely concluded that insofar as the first four versions of the law / impugned levy is concerned, the judgment in the case of Sanofi Aventis has settled the matter between the litigating parties and is a case of a past and closed transaction. The subsequent attempt by way of any law up to the Sindh Finance Act, 2009, does not undo the effect of such judgment, as neither any proper retrospective effect was given to the subsequent law; nor any satisfactory curative or re-validation clauses were incorporated which could pass the litmus test for doing so in terms of law settled by the superior court including that in the case of Molasses Trading.
15. Finally, the seventh version of the law was introduced through Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act, 2017 and the relevant provisions read as under:- "THE SINDH DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE CESS ACT, 2017 SINDH ACT NO. XVIII OF 2017 AN ACT to consolidate the law relating to the levy of a cess on goods entering into and leaving the Province from or for outside the country through air or sea; Preamble WHEREAS it is expedient to consolidate the law relating to the Preamble levy of a cess on goods entering into and leaving the Province from or for outside the country through air or sea, for development and maintenance of infrastructure of the Province; It is hereby enacted as follows:- CHAPTER-I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
(1) This Act may be called the Sindh Development and Maintenance of Infrastructure Cess Act, 2017. (2) It extends to the whole of the Province of Sindh. (3) It shall come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from 1st July, 1994.
2. Definition.
In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context - (a) "cess" means the cess payable under section 3 of the Act; (b) "Director" means the Director, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control; (c) "Director General" means Director General, Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Sindh; (d) "District Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Officer" means the Senior Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Officer or Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Officer of the District, having jurisdiction; (e) "Government" means the Government of Sindh; (f) "owner" means the person in whose name the goods are entering or leaving the Province from or for outside the country by air or sea and includes the clearing agent; (g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules; (h) "person" includes the person, entity, any company or association or body of persons, whether incorporated or not; (i) "Province" means the Province of Sindh; (j) "rules" means rules made under this Act; and (k) "Schedule" means Schedule appended to this Act; CHAPTER-II SCOPE OF CESS
There shall be levied and collected a cess for maintenance and development of infrastructure on goods at the rate determined on the basis of their value, net weight and distance in accordance with the Schedule, for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement in the Province upon entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea: Explanation: for the purpose of this section, the word "infrastructure" includes roads, streets, bridges, culverts, lights on passages, plantation on passages, beaches, public parks, place of public recreation and convenience, eating places, landscape, forests, fisheries, delta conservation, lakes, breeding places of aquatic life, wild life and its sanctuaries, public schools, vocational and technical training centers and projects, libraries, museums and similar institutions controlled and financed by the Province, control of traffic for smooth flow and safer movement of goods, public order, police force, patrol for safety of goods, stands for loading and unloading of goods, parking places, markets, water supply, hospitals and dispensaries and development, improvement, maintenance and protection of such matters". Chapter-IV / Miscellaneous
13. Validation.
Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, rules or Judgment, order or decree of any court the Infrastructure Cess levied, assessed, charged and collected in pursuance of Sindh Finance Act, 1994 and amendments thereof, before coming into force of this Act shall be deemed to have been validly levied, assessed, charged or collected.
16. The aforesaid Act of 2017 was made effective by virtue of section 1(3) from 1.7.1994. It also substituted the charging section to read that now the cess was levied and collected for maintenance and development of infrastructure for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement in the Province upon entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea, whereas the explanation appended thereto provided the meaning and purpose for the said levy of infrastructure cess. The precise case of the Petitioners is in respect of the legislative competence of the Province under the Constitution and whether it discriminates the petitioners in any manner or not. And lastly, whether this 2017 Act, is applicable retrospectively or not (this we may add to the extent of litigants in the earlier round in Sanofi Aventis already stands discussed earlier). Petitioners Counsel have argued that the Province cannot legislate on the subject matter as according to them the levy in question is covered by Entries 2425, 2726 and 4327 of the Federal Legislative List as enumerated in the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution and by virtue of Article 142(a) ibid, it is only the Federation which can legislate on it. Their emphasis has been that the levy in question is in fact a tax or fee on the import and export of goods as it is being levied and collected in the same manner as the Customs duty under the Customs Act, 1969, including that on ad-valorem28 basis. With respect we do not agree. This is wholly misconceived and untenable as merely by providing a mechanism of collection of the levy in question, it would not ipso-facto become a customs duty, and consequently, falling within the domain of the Federal Legislature. The impugned levy in its present form is a cess for maintenance and development of infrastructure29 on goods upon entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement in the Province. For the present purposes the levy is only applicable and challenged upon goods entering the Province from outside the Country as for the remaining it is exempted30.
17. As of today, post 18th amendment we need to look into Article 142 of the Constitution first which determines the boundaries of the Federal and Provincial Legislatures. In terms of Article 142(a) the Parliament (Federal Legislature) has the exclusive power to make laws with respect to any matter enumerated in Federal List; pursuant to Article 142(b), the Federal and Provincial Legislatures have powers to make laws with respect to criminal laws, criminal procedure and evidence; and pursuant to Article 142(c) the Parliament / Federal Legislature shall not and Province shall have power to make laws with respect to any matter not enumerated in the Federal Legislative List. Post 18th amendment the net result is that now there are (a) enumerated competences set out in the Federal List, which are exclusive to the Federation, (b) three enumerated competences which are concurrent, and (c) a whole host of non-enumerated competences which are exclusive to the Provinces
31. Though it is also a well-settled proposition of law that an entry in a Legislative list cannot be construed narrowly or in a pedantic manner but it is to be given liberal construction in this behalf32; however, at the same time one must take note that the present case is not that of legislation being challenged on the ground that it does not fall or is not covered within a certain legislative entry; rather it is the inverse in this case. The Provincial Legislature has ample powers to legislate on any matter not falling within any of the Entries of the Federal Legislative List. And that is the end of the matter. It is the petitioners who have come before this Court to assert that the impugned levy falls with the competence of the Federal Legislature. At the same time the Federal Legislature has not imposed any such levy; nor has the competence of the Provincial Legislature is under dispute at least by the Federation itself as has been the case in a number of laws post 18th amendment
33. It is in fact a case of residuary powers of the Provincial Legislature which has been exercised and its interpretation cannot be aligned or equated with the principles of interpretation applicable while examining the same on the touchstone of a specified Entry in the Legislative List. Unlike India, presently we do not have any Legislative List for the Provinces. In fact, as of today, post 18th amendment [subject to Article 142(b)], we do not even have any Concurrent Legislative List. It is in this context that we need to examine and interpret the legislative powers of the Province. As must be understood, it is not humanly possible to conceive all legislative fields and to overcome this, now we have a system in place which empowers the Provincial Legislature to enact laws as are not covered by any of the Entries in the Federal Legislative List. This at the same time does not permit or provides sanction or authority to the Province to legislate on any matter as it deems fit. All these powers remain circumscribed as to the intent and will of the Constitution as a whole. The main focus of the Petitioners Counsel against the validity of the impugned levy was in respect of its taxable event. According to them since it was being levied at the same time and in the same manner as a customs duty under the Customs Act, 1969; hence, it would fall within the competence of the Federal Legislature pursuant to Entry 43 (Duties of Customs, including export duties) of the Federal Legislative List. However, this argument is least impressive as it is not always so. A closer analysis invariably reveals that what appears to be the same event is (usually) in fact and (certainly) in law, two separate taxing events each of which falls, properly, within the scope of a distinct taxing power
34. This has been well defined now in respect of levy of Professional Tax, which is though a tax on income and by way of Entry 47 in the Federal List falls within the competence of the Federation; however, by way of Article 163 ibid, the Province (subject to limitations) can levy taxes on professions, trades, callings or employments. Hence, on the same taxing event, even both legislatures have their respective competence.
18. While hearing arguments we had confronted both lead Counsels for the petitioners that earlier in a somewhat similar manner, levy of Octroi in terms of Municipal Administration Ordinance, 1960 (X of 1960) ("Ordinance"), vide West Pakistan Municipal Committee Octroi Rules, 1964, has been held to be a valid levy by this Court on a number of occasions inasmuch as it was also levied and collected on Imports as "Sea dues" and in the same manner as Customs Duty on ad-valorem basis. In response we were assisted that ratio of such judgments35 would not apply to the present levy. Precisely, according to them, taxable event for imposition of Octroi was the import of goods in the Octroi limits for consumption, use or sale within that area i.e. the goods had to be imported into the Octroi limits for the purpose of consumption, use or sale within those limits and if either of these conditions was not met, there was no taxable event and Octroi was not payable. With respect we disagree. In Universal Merchants36 the challenge was against imposition and enhancement of rates of Octroi on liquor. At the relevant time Karachi Municipal Corporation, then functioning under the Ordinance (relevant period being between abrogation of the 1956 Constitution and before enactment of the 1962 Constitution) and when the country was being governed by virtue of certain other instruments so far as may be in accordance with the 1956 Constitution. Pursuant to section 33 of the Ordinance KMC was authorized to levy in the prescribed manner all or any of the taxes, rates, tolls and fees mentioned in the Third Schedule including Tax on the import of goods for consumption, use or sale in a municipality and Tax on the export of goods from a municipality. Further in terms of sections 35, 37, 38, 39, 41 and 121 of the Ordinance the Government had made rules which were called the West Pakistan Municipal Committee Octroi Rules, 1964 levying Octroi and prescribing a detailed procedure for its collection at the rates specified in the Appendix to the rules. This levy was of two types. One on goods imported from abroad; and the other on goods being brought into the respective Municipal limits for sale, use or consumption. Rule 2(e) of the said Rules defined "export"37, 2(i) defined "import"38, 2(m) defined "octroi"39, 2(s) defined "Value"
40. This levy of Octroi on Import from abroad was challenged before a Divison Bench of this Court in the case of Universal Merchants (Supra). The precise case of the Petitioners was that it could not be imposed at all in respect of Karachi as it was interference with the freedom of trade and commerce in the country and the only competent authority was the Federal Legislature. It was argued that item 5 of the 5th Schedule to the 1956 Constitution41 enumerates competence of the Central Legislature; hence, it was ultra vires. In fact when 1964 Rules were promulgated item 5 in the Third Schedule to the 1962 Constitution42 was somewhat similar in nature. At Para 6 of the judgment the Court observed as follows;
6. Assuming, however, for the sake of argument in favour of the petitioners that the Municipality cannot, under the Ordinance, impose a tax in any field which belongs to the exclusive competence of the Central Legislature I still do not think that Octroi is such a tax as come within the relevant item which I have quoted from the 1956 and the 1962 Constitutions. It is true of course that goods which enter the city of Karachi may be entering from a province other than the one in which Karachi is situate or even from outside the country altogether. The tax is nevertheless a tax upon the import of goods for consumption, use or in a Municipality. The purpose of the tax, therefore, is to levy a charge upon goods which are brought in, not only within the city but for consumption, use or sale within the City. If goods are landed from abroad but are not intended for such consumption sale or use but are intended to be so used, let us say, in Lahore, then, Octroi would not be leviable. The entire purpose of making the Central Legislature, the authority who alone is competent to legislate upon inter-provincial trade and trade with foreign countries, is to allow it to have control over such trade. Octroi on the other hand is a charge upon import within a city. The fact that in a given case the goods may happen to come from another province or from outside the country is incidental and besides the point. Even so if they are not intended for use in the city the tax would not be chargeable. The argument, therefore, I think is wholly fallacious Octroi, is not a tax which is concerned with inter-provincial trade or trade with foreign countries and is, therefore, within the competence of the Provincial Legislature and therefore of the Municipality.
19. This judgment was then followed in the case of Shershah Industries43 and Hyderi Ship Breaking44 by another Division Bench of this Court, which even went further and also dilated upon the issue and interpretation of the words "Import" on which much stress was laid by the Petitioners Counsel before us. The petitioners in that case had imported a Vessel for scrapping and dismantling which arrived at the Outer Anchorage of the Port, which location, according to the petitioners, was outside the Karachi Port, and was then taken directly to Gadani Beach, in Lasbella District of the Province of Baluchistan. There it was scrapped and when petitioners wanted to bring the ship scrap into Karachi by road, Octroi was demanded at the rate of 2% ad valorem of the duty paid value of the vessel pursuant to Schedule A of the Rules applicable to all imported goods. The petitioners were willing to pay Octroi at Rs. 3.50 per ton on the scrap being brought by them into Karachi Municipal limits through trucks via R.C.D. Highway, and challenged the demand of Octroi at 2% ad valorem of the duty paid value of the vessel. When this petition was being heard the provisions under consideration were of the interim Constitution of 1972 and the 1973 Constitution. It was contended by the Petitioners that Octroi in question though described as Octroi, was actually a "customs or import duty" which is a Federal subject under the two Constitutions and the Provincial Government by levying such Octroi duty has transgressed the Federal field of legislation, and in support reliance was placed on Article 138 and the entries of the Federal Legislative list contained in the Fourth Schedule to the 1972 Interim Constitution
45. The finding of the Court is as under; As observed earlier, "Octroi" has been defined in the 1964 Octroi Rules as a tax on the "import" of goods for consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits, and "import" has been defined as import within the Octroi' limits, therefore, does not attract Octroi but the import within the Octro' limits must also be coupled with the purpose of consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits. Unless Octroi is equated with customs duty, do not see how such tax falls within the items of Federal Legislative Lists of the two Constitutions of 1972 and 1973 pointed out by the learned counsel. We say so as by Item No. 47 of the Provincial List of the Fourth Schedule to the Interim-Constitution, framers of that constitution specifically and with clarity included Octroi within the Provincial Legislative field. Item 47 reads as follows;-- "Cesses on entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein." Now in the Interim-Constitution of 1972, apart from the Federal and Concurrent Lists, there was a separate Provincial Legislative List, whereas in the 1973 Constitution there are only two Legislative List namely the Federal Legislative List and the concurrent Legislative List. However, Article 142(c) If 1973 Constitution provides that "Provincial Assembly shall, and Parliament shall not, have power to make laws with respect to any matter not enumerated in either the Federal Legislative List or the concurrent Legislative List. It may be mentioned here that Article 142 remains intact and has not been deleted by the Provincial Constitution Order; 1981. Subject contained in Item 47 of the Provincial Legislative List of the Interim-Constitution, 1972 is neither mentioned nor covered by any item of the two Legislative Lists of the 1973 Constitution. The only logical conclusion is that by virtue of Article 142(c) of the 1973 Constitution, the Subject "Cesses on entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein falls squarely" within the Provincial Legislative field " We may now examine the other limb of the argument of the learned counsel for the petitioners that Octroi on goods imported by sea is in essence and reality a duty of customs but in the garb of Octroi. According to Mr. Khurshid Anwar Shaikh as Octroi becomes leviable as soon as the goods are imported into Karachi from abroad, the notifications of 15-6-1973 are in effect imposing a duty of customs. Mr. A. A. Fazeel, learned counsel for K. M. C., referred us to a Division Bench judgment of this Court in the case of Universal Merchants v. Commissioner of Karachi 1980 C L C 704, and urged that this point has been considered and decided in that judgment. In paragraph 4 of the said judgment it is observed as under; We are in respectful agreement with the aforesaid observations. Octroi tax has been clearly distinguished from other taxes and the basic reason is that it' is a tax "upon goods which are brought in not only within the city but for consumption, use or sale within the city." In our view Octroi tax on good's coming from abroad and entering the municipal Octroi limits for the purpose) of consumption, use or sale within the Octroi limits cannot be equated with duties of customs.
20. Though the learned Counsel for the Petitioners emphatically contended that these two judgments do not support the case of the Respondents and in fact they are supportive of the stance taken by the Petitioners inasmuch as the reason which prevailed upon the learned Benches to uphold the levy of Octroi on imports was due to the fact the goods were being either sold, used or otherwise consumed within the Municipal limits. However, with respect we are not in agreement with such suggestion put forth by them. The goods in that case were coming from abroad admittedly; the levy was on ad-volaram basis; it was on all imported goods; and lastly was being collected in the same manner and at the same time as the Customs Duty. Secondly, Shershah Industries (supra) has also dealt with somewhat similar situation while dilating upon the position with respect to the interim Constitution of 1972. The Interim-Constitution of 1972, apart from the Federal and Concurrent Lists, also had a separate Provincial Legislative List. On the other hand the 1973 Constitution only had two Legislative Lists namely the Federal Legislative List and the Concurrent Legislative List. In somewhat similar manner as it is today, in terms of Article 142(c) of the 1973 Constitution Provincial Assembly shall, and Parliament shall not, have power to make laws with respect to any matter not enumerated in either the Federal Legislative List or the Concurrent Legislative List. Since the subject contained in Item 4746 of the Provincial Legislative List (List-II) of the Interim-Constitution, 1972 was neither mentioned nor covered by any item of the two Legislative Lists of the 1973 Constitution, the learned Division Bench observed that the only logical conclusion is that by virtue of Article 142(c) of the 1973 Constitution, the Subject "Cesses on entry of goods into a local area for consumption, use or sale therein" falls squarely within the Provincial Legislative field. This reasoning of the Court is very relevant and pertinent for the present purposes. And this is for the reason that in the present context the scope of Provincial Legislature has not been curtailed in any manner pursuant to the 18th Amendment. It is not that the said item or entry has been included in the Federal Legislative List. Neither by express words nor by implication. Rather it is left open and remains available to the Provincial Legislature. Therefore, the argument that since the impugned levy in question is on ad-valoram basis and is being collected on imported goods, it becomes a Customs Duty; and in terms of Entry 43 of the Federal Legislative List, it is only the Federation which is competent to levy and impose it, is neither convincing nor is supported by the precedents discussed as above. In fact, in our considered view, the two judgments as above are contrary to what has been argued before us.
21. Subsequently, another Division Bench of this Court in the case of Pakistan International Freight Forwarders47 has also followed and endorsed this view regarding similarity in the taxing event and the competence of the Federal and Provincial Legislature at the same time. What one understands from this is that despite there being various Entries in the Federal Legislative List which are analogous to the present Entries under discussion and relied upon by the Petitioners, earlier, the Province by way of a specific Entry in its Legislative List, and thereafter, by way of Concurrent List, has been declared to be competent to levy a tax on import of goods from abroad (notwithstanding its consumption within certain limits), and such Entry i.e. 47 from the Interim Constitution having not been incorporated into the Federal Legislative List, remains available simultaneously to the Provincial Legislature irrespective of the fact that presently there is no specific List for it after the 18th Amendment. Hence, the argument that the impugned levy is in fact a Customs Duty being levied and collected in the same manner on ad-valoram basis, therefore, cannot be sustained is not correct and is hereby repelled.
22. In Azfar Laboratories (Supra) before a learned Division Bench of this Court it was contended that insofar as residual non-enumerated powers are concerned, they did not constitute specific legislative fields or competences. The Court did not agree with this. It was observed that when the 18th Amendment omitted the Concurrent List and most of its entries became non-enumerated powers exclusive to the Provinces, they did not disappear into some undifferentiated mass of legislative power and remained what they had been before: distinct and discrete legislative fields. Thus the huge swaths of legislative power that are exclusive to the Provinces comprise of specific and discrete legislative fields or competences, which are known with particularity.
23. Now coming to the second limb of the argument of the Petitioners Counsel that levy of Octroi was declared valid and intra vires only because it was on goods which were being sold, used or otherwise consumed within certain Municipal Limits and not on goods in transit. To that we may be observe that this again is not correct and is misconceived. In the impugned legislation a very specific purpose has been provided for the imposition of the levy i.e. "for maintenance and development of infrastructure for carriage by road and smooth and safer movement of goods entering or before leaving the Province from or for outside the country, through air or sea". This in our view suffices and fulfills the requirement for imposition of the levy in question. It is no more a fee after the 3rd version and is a cess. It provides very clearly in the enactment the basic purpose and reason for justifying the impugned levy. It is no more a case of any fee or its quid pro quo; hence, to this extent, the impugned levy cannot be challenged. The Honorable Supreme Court in the case of Khurshid Soap and Chemical48 has been pleased to hold that if there is a declared purpose for imposition of a levy which comes with a promise to bring some benefit or advantage in future which is basically meant for its payers, and if such benefit or advantage is made available on the ground may be availed by others as well, but that would not change the status of such fee-levying enactment, and would remain a valid levy. The crux of the judgment is that if a cess is imposed with a specific purpose then it is distinct from a fee and does not require fulfillment of the doctrine of quid pro quo; and cannot be challenged to this extent. The relevant finding reads as under: 20. " .The other kind of a fee-levying legislation is where Cess is imposed as a compulsory exaction in the same manner where taxes are imposed with the distinction that it is imposed for achieving a specific purpose promised in the enactment itself which when realized would bring some advantage or benefit for the payers in future. It can be described as 'purpose specific' and in many judicial pronouncements have been termed as 'Cess-fee'. In such a form of levy, the specified purpose is pre-committed to the payers before the revenue is collected under the legislation. To quote a few examples, Cess is imposed to meet the extraordinary costs involved in providing infrastructure such as construction of dams or for importing oil or gas from abroad through pipelines or to build farm to mill roads in order to facilitate marketing of the agricultural produce or for conducting research and development in some specialized field. In such a form of levy the rule of quid pro quo does not exist in the same sense as it exists in a case where an existing service is rendered or a privilege is extended directly to the payer for a fee. What needs to be taken into consideration is whether the enactment has promised some benefit or advantage for the payers to be made available in future by utilizing the revenue, making it more akin to a fee then a pure revenue raising measure like taxes in general are imposed with no precondition attached for their spending .."
24. The basic difference between the enactment where fee-simplicitor is imposed and where Cess-fee is imposed is that in the former a service or a privilege is made available to the payer directly on the strict principle of quid pro quo whereas in the latter case, the declared purpose comes with a promise to bring some benefit or advantage in future which is basically meant for its payers. Such benefit or privilege once made available on the ground may be availed by others as well but that would not change the status of such fee-levying enactment. It would remain a specie of fee-levying enactment in contradistinction to tax-levying enactment in which no specific purpose or specific service needs to be disclosed by the legislature in order to justify its imposition.
24. When an issue arises as to interpreting apparent conflicting legislative entries when there are distinct entries for Federal and Provincial Legislatures, even in that situation it is not that the Court would always arrive at a conclusion that either of them has the competency to do so. It is but natural that in this situation controversies do arise as to the competency and as to who is exceeding its own domain and encroaching upon the others. In that case it is not the name of the tax; but its real nature i.e. the "pith and substance" that determines into what category or in whose domain such legislation would fall. In Governor General49, the Privy Council laid down important principles for interpreting apparently conflicting Legislative Entries in general and tax entries in particular. It was held, first, that though a tax may overlap, in fact there would be no overlapping, if the taxes were separate and distinct imposts; secondly, that the machinery of tax collection did not affect the real nature of a tax. Another principle for reconciling apparently conflicting tax entries follows from the fact that a tax has two elements; the person, thing or activity on which tax is imposed, and the amount of the tax. The amount may be measured in many ways; but decided cases establish a c lear distinction between the subject matter of a tax and the standard by which the amount of tax is measured. These two elements are described as the subject or a tax and the measure of a tax. This was also quoted with approval by the Supreme Court of India in D.G.Gouse50 as stating precisely the two elements involved in almost all tax cases, namely the subject of a tax and the measure of a tax. The conclusion for this kind of a situation is that principles of interpretation of conflicting Entries of Legislation cannot be placed in a strait jacket formula and it will vary, primarily depending upon the subject matter of the legislation in issue. Here in the matter in hand we do not even have such an issue, as Federal Legislature is not disputing the Provincial Legislatures exercise of powers in enacting legislation in respect of the impugned levy. Even where there have been separate entries for the Federal and Provincial Legislature, the Courts have, by applying the pith and substance principle validated such exercise of powers by either of the Legislatures. In determining the pith and substance of an existing law, one has only to look at the law itself regardless of its provenance under whatever constitutional dispensation it had originally been enacted. If it related to none of the entries in either of the Lists then it fell in the exclusive provincial domain and became a provincial law (coming also within the Federal domain but only in relation to those areas of Pakistan that did not form part of a Province, being effectively and principally the Capital)
51. The pith and substance of the legislated subject is to be examined to determine in whose legislative sphere a particular subject comes under. And above all a reasonable interpretation which does not produce impracticable results should be adopted52.
25. It is settled law that there is always a distinction between the object of tax, the incidence of tax and the machinery for the collection of the tax. The distinction is important and shall always be kept in consideration. Legislative competence is to be determined with reference to the object of the levy and not with reference to its incidence or machinery. Here in the impugned levy the imposition is on goods which are using the infrastructure of the Province after having landed at Port from abroad. Almost the entire cargo being imported in the Country routs through the Province of Sindh, and for that the Provincial Legislature thought it appropriate to impose a certain amount of tax in the form of a cess. It is though being collected from an Importer of goods; but in essence it is not on imports; but for maintenance and development of infrastructure on imported goods. Since goods using this infrastructure by itself cannot pay; nor can it be so recovered, and has to be recovered from someone i.e. the importers. The importers in this case are then persons having a direct control, connection, possession and nexus with these goods, and therefore, can be called to pay the impugned levy. And this to us seems to be fine and within the legislative competence of the Province. At the most it is only an expedient and convenient manner for which it has been levied at the stage of imports and nothing more.
26. In view of the above discussion it is hereby declared that insofar as the first four versions of the law / impugned levy is concerned, the same has no applicability on the petitioners who had earlier challenged the same and were before the Court in Sanofi Aventis; as the said judgment has attained finality and is a case of past and closed transaction. It is further held that The Sindh Finance Act, 2017, promulgated retrospectively with effect from 1.7.1994 is a valid law, within the competence of the Provincial Legislature and is applicable retrospectively; however, barring the Appellants in Sanofi Aventis.
27. Accordingly, in view of hereinabove facts and circumstances, all listed petitions are disposed of in the following terms; a. Insofar as the first four versions of law introduced through Sindh Finance Act, 1994, amended through Sindh Finance Act, 1996, the Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, and the Sindh Finance (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2001 are concerned, their applicability on the petitioners who had litigated earlier and were Appellants in Sanofi Aventis53, has attained finality and is a past and closed transaction, notwithstanding promulgation of its fifth version vide Sindh Finance (Amendment) Ordinance, 2006, further amended by The Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2007 (Sindh Act No: II of 2007, and The Sindh Finance (Amendment) Act, 2009 (Sindh Act No.III of 2009); b. The Sindh Finance Act, 2017, promulgated retrospectively with effect from 1.7.1994 is a valid law within the competence of the Provincial Legislature under the Constitution and is applicable retrospectively; however, [subject to (a) as above]; c. All imposition and collection of the impugned levy with effect from 1.7.1994 pursuant to section 1(3) of the Sindh Finance Act, 2017, being retrospective in effect has been validly done and collected; again however, [subject to (a) as above]; d. All Bank Guaranteed furnished by the petitioners up to 27.12.2006 who had litigated earlier and were Appellants in Sanofi Aventis53, shall stand discharged; whereas those furnished by them on or after 28.12.2006 shall be en-cashed and paid to the department; e. All Bank Guarantees furnished by rest of the Petitioners not covered at (a) as above, shall be en-cashed and paid to the department; f. The operation of this judgment, considering the intricacy and the issue involved is hereby suspended for a period of 90 days from today; and in the meantime the earlier arrangement for release of the petitioners consignments shall continue on the same terms;
28. All listed petitions are disposed of in the above terms. Annexure "A"
1. Const. P.D 1598/2011 Pakistan Tabacco Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others 2 Const. P.D 1654/2011 Muhammad Iqbal Bilwani and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
3. Const. P.D 1655/2011 Muhammad Iqbal Bilwani and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
4. Const. P.D 1656/2011 Salman Mir and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
5. Const. P.D 1657/2011 Qamar Abbas and another v. The Province of Sindh and another
6. Const. P.D 1662/2011 Messrs The Paracha Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
7. Const. P.D 1668/2011 ICI Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
8. Const. P.D 1669/2011 Amer Cotton Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
9. Const. P.D 1671/2011 Nishat Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
10. Const. P.D 1673/2011 Indus Motors Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
11. Const. P.D 1674/2011 Nishat (Chunian) Ltd., v. Province of Sindh and others.
12. Const. P.D 1676/2011 Jubilee Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
13. Const. P.D 1678/2011 Premium Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
14. Const. P.D 1681/2011 Messrs Azam Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
15. Const. P.D 1687/2011 Gulshan Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
16. Const. P.D 1689/2011 Lotle Pakistan PTA Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
17. Const. P.D 1693/2011 Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
18. Const. P.D 1694/2011 Crescent Steel and Allied Products Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
19. Const. P.D 1695/2011 Sanofi Aventis Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
20. Const. P.D 1699/2011 Nishat Paper Products Company Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
21. Const. P.D 1700/2011 D.G Khan Cement Company Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
22. Const. P.D 1701/2011 Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
23. Const. P.D 1726/2011 International Industries Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
24. Const. P.D 1727/2011 Shabbir Tiles and Ceramics Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
25. Const. P.D 1728/2011 Agriauto Industries Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
26. Const. P.D 1729/2011 Dynea Pakistan Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
27. Const. P.D 1730/2011 Au Vitronics Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
28. Const. P.D 1754/2011 Messrs Umer Spinning Mills (Pvt) Ltd v. Province of Sindh and another
29. Const. P.D 1756/2011 Messrs Acro Spinning and Weaving Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
30. Const. P.D 1757/2011 Rawal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
31. Const. P.D 1759/2011 Bestway Cement Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others.
32. Const. P.D 1766/2011 Messrs Mahmood Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
33. Const. P.D 1776/2011 Naveena Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
34. Const. P.D 1778/2011 Messrs Naveena Experts Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
35. Const. P.D 1781/2011 Messrs Masood Fabrics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
36. Const. P.D 1798/2011 Salfi Textile Mills Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
37. Const. P.D 1799/2011 Island Textile Mills Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
38. Const. P.D 1800/2011 Tata Textile Mills Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
39. Const. P.D 1805/2011 Messrs Artistic Apparels (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
40. Const. P.D 1808/2011 Messrs Masood Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
41. Const. P.D 1809/2011 Inter Loop Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
42. Const. P.D 1812/2011 Margalla Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
43. Const. P.D 1817/2011 Messrs Colony Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
44. Const. P.D 1819/2011 Messrs Roomi Fabrics Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
45. Const. P.D 1820/2011 Messrs Fazal Rehman Fabrics Limited v. Province of Sindh and another
46. Const. P.D 1821/2011 Olympia Blended Fibre Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
47. Const. P.D 1823/2011 Prsperity Weaving Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
48. Const. P.D 1826/2011 Engro Eximp (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and others.
49. Const. P.D 1827/2011 Engro Polymer v. P.DO Sindh and others
50. Const. P.D 1828/2011 Engro Fertilizers Limited v. The Province of Sindh and others
51. Const. P.D 1829/2011 Engro Foods Ltd. v. P.DO Sindh and others
52. Const. P.D 1830/2011 Engro Foods Supply v. P.DO Sindh and others
53. Const. P.D 1833/2011 Messrs Waheed Hafeez Ghee (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
54. Const. P.D 1842/2011 Messrs Hussanian Daud Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
55. Const. P.D 1849/2011 Messrs Ab Wahid Ab. Majid (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
56. Const. P.D 1850/2011 Messrs Al-Hilal Vegetable Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
57. Const. P.D 1866/2011 Pakistan Cables Limited v. The Province of Sindh and another
58. Const. P.D 1867/2011 Siddiq sons Tin Plate Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
59. Const. P.D 1868/2011 Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
60. Const. P.D 1873/2011 Messrs Stallion Textiles (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
61. Const. P.D 1882/2011 Al-Nasr Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
62. Const. P.D 1884/2011 Messrs Hassan Limited v. Province of Sindh and another
63. Const. P.D 1887/2011 Adil Enterprise v. Province of Sindh and another
64. Const. P.D 1891/2011 Messrs Nishat (Chunian) Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
65. Const. P.D 1899/2011 Messrs Olympia Blended Fibre Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
66. Const. P.D 1900/2011 Ahmed Hassan Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
67. Const. P.D 1911/2011 Messrs Bismillah Textiles Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
68. Const. P.D 1920/2011 Mohammad Younus Abbasi v. Province of Sindh and others
69. Const. P.D 1921/2011 Resham Textiles Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
70. Const. P.D 1946/2011 Shafi Texcel Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
71. Const. P.D 1979/2011 Messrs Eastern Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
72. Const. P.D 1995/2011 Messrs Waheed Traders v. Province of Sindh and another
73. Const. P.D 1996/2011 Messrs Niaz Soap Factory v. Province of Sindh and another
74. Const. P.D 2013/2011 Ejaz Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
75. Const. P.D 2043/2011 Master Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
76. Const. P.D 2058/2011 Dura Industries (Pvt.) Ltd v. Province of Sindh and another
77. Const. P.D 2060/2011 Messrs Ruby Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
78. Const. P.D 2091/2011 Premier Formica Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
79. Const. P.D 2092/2011 Messrs Mohsin Match Factory (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
80. Const. P.D 2142/2011 Messrs Internatoional Steel Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
81. Const. P.D 2257/2011 Bhimra Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
82. Const. P.D 2312/2011 M. Shafi Tanneries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
83. Const. P.D 2314/2011 Shafi Clucochem (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
84. Const. P.D 2502/2011 Messrs Mehboob Tube Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
85. Const. P.D 2684/2011 Messrs Artistic Denim Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and another
86. Const. P.D 2751/2011 Messrs Flexipack Films v. The Province of Sindh and others
87. Const. P.D 2753/2011 Messrs Ismail Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
88. Const. P.D 2800/2011 Procter and Gamble Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
89. Const. P.D 2962/2011 Sitara Auto Impex v. Secretary Revenue and others
90. Const. P.D 3041/2011 Capital Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
91. Const. P.D 3043/2011 Diamond Products (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
92. Const. P.D 3045/2011 Shaffi Chemical Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
93. Const. P.D 3046/2011 Diamond Home Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
94. Const. P.D 3047/2011 Diamond Tyres Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
95. Const. P.D 3084/2011 BASF Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
96. Const. P.D 3085/2011 BASF Chemicals and Polymers Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
97. Const. P.D 3129/2011 Messrs Samin Textiles Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
98. Const. P.D 3167/2011 Messrs Sheikh Pipe Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
99. Const. P.D 3349/2011 Pak Denim Ltd., v. Province of Sindh and others.
100. Const. P.D 3560/2011 Messrs Pakistan Petroleum Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others.
101. Const. P.D 4122/2011 Shakeel Ahmed and others v. Province of Sindh and others
102. Const. P.D 4123/2011 Shakeel Ahmed and others v. Province of Sindh and others
103. Const. P.D 4169/2011 Messrs Pak Elektron Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
104. Const. P.D 1764/2011 Indus Home Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
105. Const. P.D 1933/2011 M/s. Lahore Feeds Ltd. VS. Province of Sindh
106. Const. P.D 2002/2011 Messrs Javed Impex v. Province of Sindh
107. Const. P.D 1675/2011 The Cresent Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
108. Const. P.D 1818/2011 Fatima Enterprises Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
109. Const. P.D 1885/2011 Naseem Exports Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
110. Const. P.D 1670/2011 Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
111. Const. P.D 1822/2011 Bhanero Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
112. Const. P.D 2147/2011 Apollo Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
113. Const. P.D 2051/2011 Kamal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
114. Const. P.D 1978/2011 Messrs Eastern Lether Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
115. Const. P.D 1639/2011 Gulistan Spinning Mills v. Province of Sindh
116. Const. P.D 1640/2011 Unilever Pakistan Foods v. Province of Sindh
117. Const. P.D 2014/2011 Ejaz Dyeing and Finishing Mills v. Province of Sindh
118. Const. P.D 1653/2011 Mapak Edible Oils (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
119. Const. P.D 1811/2011 Firhaj Footwear (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
120. Const. P.D 1647/2011 Diamond Fabric v. Province of Sindh
121. Const. P.D 1667/2011 Muhammad Ahmed v. Province of Sindh
122. Const. P.D 1661/2011 Faisal Export (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
123. Const. P.D 1991/2011 Al Hamd Edible Oil Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
124. Const. P.D 1780/2011 Artistic Apparels v. Province of Sindh
125. Const. P.D 1852/2011 ACP Oil Mills Pvt. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
126. Const. P.D 1762/2011 Sunrays Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
127. Const. P.D 1664/2011 Hafeez Ghee and General Mills v. Province of Sindh
128. Const. P.D 1642/2011 Messrs Gulshan Waving Mills v. Province of Sindh
129. Const. P.D 1761/2011 Feroz Textile v. Province of Sindh
130. Const. P.D 1837/2011 Messrs Taj Vegetable Oil Processing Unit (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
131. Const. P.D 1666/2011 Messrs Shakoo (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
132. Const. P.D 2122/2011 Messrs Agritech Limited v. Province of Sindh
133. Const. P.D 1677/2011 Dossa Cotton and General Trading (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
134. Const. P.D 1875/2011 Messrs Colony Sugar Mills v. Province of Sindh
135. Const. P.D 1814/2011 Messrs Quetta Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
136. Const. P.D 1738/2011 Adeel Hamza Oil Ind. v. Province of Sindh
137. Const. P.D 1660/2011 Hafeez Iqbal Oil and Ghee v. Province of Sindh
138. Const. P.D 1672/2011 Messrs Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
139. Const. P.D 1910/2011 Messrs Premier Clipboard Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
140. Const. P.D 1915/2011 Messrs A-J Match (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
141. Const. P.D 2061/2011 Messrs Ishaq Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
142. Const. P.D 1851/2011 Messrs Khadija Edible Oil Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
143. Const. P.D 1942/2011 Amin Feroz and Company v. Province of Sindh
144. Const. P.D 1892/2011 Messrs Suraj Fertilizer Ind. (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
145. Const. P.D 1773/2011 Ahmed Fine Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
146. Const. P.D 1770/2011 Olympia Spinning and Weaving Mill v. Province of Sindh
147. Const. P.D 1686/2011 Gulistan Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
148. Const. P.D 2815/2011 Capital Industries Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
149. Const. P.D 1824/2011 Nadeem Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
150. Const. P.D 1806/2011 Faisal Spinning Mills v. Province of Sindh
151. Const. P.D 1934/2011 Messrs Olympia Chemical Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
152. Const. P.D 2078/2011 Messrs Kohat Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
153. Const. P.D 1710/2011 Al-Saeed Enterprises v. Province of Sindh
154. Const. P D 1771/2011 Din Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
155. Const. P.D 1646/2011 Messrs Naeelam Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
156. Const. P.D 1896/2011 Ayesha Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
157. Const. P.D 1706/2011 Messrs MIMA Leather (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
158. Const. P.D 1665/2011 Messrs Habib Oil Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
159. Const. P.D 1711/2011 Messrs Soya Weaving Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
160. Const. P.D 1895/2011 Premier Industries Chemical v. Province of Sindh
161. Const. P.D 1775/2011 Messrs A.J. Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
162. Const. P.D 1994/2011 Messrs Saad Internationals v. Province of Sindh
163. Const. P.D 2068/2011 Tanveer Spinning and Weaving Mill v. Province of Sindh
164. Const. P.D 1877/2011 Nafeesa Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
165. Const. P.D 1845/2011 Messrs Hameeda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
166. Const. P.D 1878/2011 M/s. Asia Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
167. Const. P.D 1993/2011 Messrs Allah Ditta and Sons Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
168. Const. P.D 1810/2011 Zahra Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
169. Const. P.D 1816/2011 Messrs Fazal Cloth Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
170. Const. P.D 1886/2011 Messrs Acro Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
171. Const. P.D 1679/2011 N.P Spinnings Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
172. Const. P.D 1683/2011 Deewan Farooq Motors Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
173. Const. P.D 1760/2011 A&B Food Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
174. Const. P.D 1988/2011 Messrs Al Hashimi Brothers and Oil Industries Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
175. Const. P.D 1709/2011 Messrs Universal Leather (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
176. Const. P.D 1599/2011 Messrs Uniliver Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
177. Const. P.D 2062/2011 Messrs Arshad Textile Mills Ltd. Co. v. Province of Sindh
178. Const. P.D 1684/2011 Artistic Fabric Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
179. Const. P.D 1748/2011 ATS Systematic (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
180. Const. P.D 1708/2011 Mima Knit (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
181. Const. P.D 1765/2011 Nagina Cotton Mills v. Province of Sindh
182. Const. P.D 1836/2011 Transtech v. Province of Sindh
183. Const. P.D 3609/2011 Ever Fresh Farms (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
184. Const. P.D 1769/2011 Shadman Cotton Mills. v. Province of Sindh
185. Const. P.D 1935/2011 Messrs Kohinoor Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
186. Const. P.D 1768/2011 Messrs Idrees Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
187. Const. P.D 1917/2011 Messrs Mohsin Enterprises v. Province of Sindh
188. Const. P.D 1641/2011 Sapphire Fishing Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
189. Const. P.D 1874/2011 Bilal Fibre v. Province of Sindh
190. Const. P.D 1871/2011 Fashion Knit Industries v. Province of Sindh
191. Const. P.D 1834/2011 Yaqoot Oil Processing and Extracting v. Province of Sindh
192. Const. P.D 1897/2011 Zafar Fabric Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
193. Const. P.D 1774/2011 N P Cotton Mills v. Province of Sindh
194. Const. P.D 1749/2011 B.P.D Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
195. Const. P.D 1801/2011 Gul Ahmed Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
196. Const. P.D 1844/2011 Zakariya Enterprises v. Province of Sindh
197. Const. P.D 1846/2011 Ashraf Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
198. Const. P.D 1913/2011 Ayesha Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
199. Const. P.D 2090/2011 Yaqoot Traders v. Province of Sindh and others
200. Const. P.D 2077/2011 Messrs Saif Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
201. Const. P.D 1870/2011 Messrs Kamarl Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
202. Const. P.D 1989/2011 Messrs WR Edible Oil Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
203. Const. P.D 1755/2011 SA Trading Corporation Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
204. Const. P.D 1680/2011 Messrs Saritow Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
205. Const. P.D 1916/2011 SGM Sugar Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
206. Const. P.D 1847/2011 Messrs Agro Processors and Atmopheric Gases Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
207. Const. P.D 1807/2011 Messrs Khas Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
208. Const. P.D 1750/2011 Messrs Indus Dyeing and Manufacturing Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
209. Const. P.D 1763/2011 Artistic Millinners (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
210. Const. P.D 1644/2011 Sapphire Power Generation Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
211. Const. P.D 1782/2011 Diamond International v. Province of Sindh
212. Const. P.D 1643/2011 Messrs Paramount Spinning Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh
213. Const. P.D 1772/2011 Messrs Ahmed Oriental Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
214. Const. P.D 1909/2011 Messrs Al-Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
215. Const. P.D 1987/2011 Messrs Farooq Oil Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
216. Const. P.D 1840/2011 Messrs Sadiq Vegetable Ghee Mill (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
217. Const. P.D 1914/2011 Messrs BNP Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
218. Const. P.D 1876/2011 Messrs Shafi Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
219. Const. P.D 1990/2011 Messrs Gul Shahzada Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
220. Const. P.D 1779/2011 Hussain Mills v. Province of Sindh
221. Const. P.D 1912/2011 Al Moiz Industries v. Province of Sindh
222. Const. P.D 1992/2011 Bhatti Traders v. Province of Sindh
223. Const. P.D 1777/2011 Messrs North Star Textile v. Province of Sindh
224. Const. P.D 1893/2011 Asian Food Industries v. Province of Sindh
225. Const. P.D 1722/2011 Lucky Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh
226. Const. P.D 1843/2011 Messrs Khayaban Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
227. Const. P.D 2001/2011 Messrs Hamza Vegetable Oil Refinery and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) v. Province of Sindh
228. Const. P.D 1832/2011 Messrs Azhar Corporation (Pvt.) Limited v. Province of Sindh
229. Const. P.D 1712/2011 Messrs Sargodha Jute Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
230. Const. P.D 1758/2011 Messrs Soorty Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
231. Const. P.D 1688/2011 Artistic Garment Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
232. Const. P.D 1600/2011 Messrs Shell Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
233. Const. P.D 1719/2011 Fazal Textile Mills (Ltd.) v. Province of Sindh
234. Const. P.D 1720/2011 Gadoon Textile Mills (Ltd.) v. Province of Sindh
235. Const. P.D 1682/2011 Messrs Hantex v. Province of Sindh
236. Const. P.D 1663/2011 Messrs Associated Industries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
237. Const. P.D 1659/2011 Messrs Riaz Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
238. Const. P.D 2503/2011 Mehboob Steel Pipes v. Province of Sindh
239. Const. P.D 2044/2011 Messrs Sapphire Dairies (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
240. Const. P.D 2059/2011 Messrs Azgard Nine Limited v. Province of Sindh
241. Const. P.D 1841/2011 Messrs Tahir Amar Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
242. Const. P.D 1890/2011 Mayfair Limited v. Province of Sindh
243. Const. P.D 2118/2011 US Denim Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
244. Const. P.D 1839/2011 Abdul Majid v. Province of Sindh
245. Const. P.D 1872/2011 Kassim Textile v. Province of Sindh
246. Const. P.D 1848/2011 Hina Khurrum v. Province of Sindh
247. Const. P.D 1705/2011 Pakistan Vinyal Industries v. Province of Sindh
248. Const. P.D 1804/2011 Messrs Blessed Textiles Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
249. Const. P.D 1980/2011 Messrs Reliance Weaving Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
250. Const. P.D 1813/2011 Messrs Nisar Spinning Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh
251. Const. P.D 1645/2011 Messrs Reliance Cotton Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
252. Const. P.D 1838/2011 Messrs Muridke Refine Oil Mills v. Province of Sindh
253. Const. P.D 1835/2011 Messrs Iffco Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh
254. Const. P.D 1898/2011 Messrs Colony Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh
255. Const. P.D 1466/2012 General Tyre and Rubber Co. Pakistan v. The Province of Sindh and others
256. Const. P.D 2570/2012 M/s. Nishat Dairy (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and another
257. Const. P.D 2697/2012 SPEC (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and others
258. Const. P.D 2879/2012 Mian Nazir Sons Ind v. Province of Sindh and others
259. Const. P.D 3001/2012 M/s. Suraj Cotton Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
260. Const. P.D 3002/2012 M/s. Shams Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
261. Const. P.D 3003/2012 M/s. Equity Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
262. Const. P.D 3653/2012 Messrs Karachi Tube Mills Pvt. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
263. Const. P.D 1351/2013 M/s. Kamal Textile Mills(Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
264. Const. P.D 138/2013 M/s. Nimir Chemicals v. Province of Sindh and others
265. Const. P.D 1786/2013 Digital World (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
266. Const. P.D 1787/2013 DWP Technologies (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
267. Const. P.D 2173/2013 Messrs Matco Rice Proceedings (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
268. Const. P.D 2623/2013 Messrs Aisha Steel Mills Limited v. Province of Sindh and others.
269. Const. P.D 3410/2013 Messrs Nishat Lines (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
270. Const. P.D 3424/2013 Messrs Fazal Weaving Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
271. Const. P.D 3712/2013 Messrs Shafi Taxcel Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
272. Const. P.D 3819/2013 Messrs K.K Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
273. Const. P.D 4028/2013 Messrs Masco Spinning Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
274. Const. P.D 4577/2013 Inter Loop Diaries Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
275. Const. P.D 5197/2013 Messrs Ahmed Oil Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
276. Const. P.D 5198/2013 Messrs Plastiflex Films (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
277. Const. P.D 1010/2014 Messrs Mujahid Enterprises v. Province of Sindh and others
278. Const. P.D 1011/2014 Messrs Imran Yaqoob Ghee Inds v. Province of Sindh and others
279. Const. P.D 1066/2014 Messrs Commodity World v. Province Of Sindh and others
280. Const. P.D 1521/2014 Atlas Honda Ltd. v. Sindh and others
281. Const. P.D 1522/2014 Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
282. Const. P.D 1706/2014 Atlas Battery v. Sindh and others
283. Const. P.D 1707/2014 Atlas Hitec v. Sindh and others
284. Const. P.D 1708/2014 Atlas Engineering v. Sindh and others
285. Const. P.D 1709/2014 Atlas Autos v. Sindh and others
286. Const. P.D 1710/2014 Shirazi Trading and Co. v. Sindh and others
287. Const. P.D 2346/2014 Pak Suzuki Motor Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
288. Const. P.D 2552/2014 Messrs Atif Enterprises (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
289. Const. P.D 2553/2014 Mirpur Oil and Ghee v. Province of Sindh and others
290. Const. P.D 2808/2014 Messrs Kamal Indutries v. Province of Sindh and others
291. Const. P.D 3544/2014 Honda Atlas Power Product v. Sindh and others
292. Const. P.D 3615/2014 Messrs Ideal Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
293. Const. P.D 3714/2014 Engro Elengy Terminal (Pvt.) Ltd. v. The Province of Sindh and others
294. Const. P.D 3923/2014 Sheikh Pipe Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
295. Const. P.D 3924/2014 Messrs Sheikh Engineering Co. v. Province of Sindh and others
296. Const. P.D 4341/2014 Messrs H.M Extraction Ghee and Oil Industries v. Province of Sindh and others
297. Const. P.D 4342/2014 Messrs Lal Ghee and Oil Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
298. Const. P.D 4352/2014 TRI-Pack Films Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
299. Const. P.D 4567/2014 Messrs Nishat Hotels and Properties Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
300. Const. P.D 4645/2014 Messrs Cresent Hadeed (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
301. Const. P.D 4733/2014 Messrs Pakgen Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
302. Const. P.D 4734/2014 Messrs Cherat Cement Co. v. Province of Sindh and otherss
303. Const. P.D 4735/2014 Messrs Lalpir Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
304. Const. P.D 5010/2014 Messrs HNR Co. v. Province of Sindh and others
305. Const. P.D 5067/2014 Messrs Salman Oil Ghee Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
306. Const. P.D 5068/2014 Messrs Pak Pertochemical Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
307. Const. P.D 5402/2014 Messrs Bhanero Energy Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
308. Const. P.D 5691/2014 Messrs Fahad Hamad Oil v. Province of Sindh and others
309. Const. P.D 6529/2014 Messrs Cresent Fibres Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
310. Const. P.D 778/2014 Messrs Al Karam Towel Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
311. Const. P.D 864/2014 Messrs Cherat Packaging Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
312. Const. P.D 98/2014 Messrs Olympia Textile Mills limited v. Province of Sindh and others
313. Const. P.D 1522/2015 Fatima Energy Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
314. Const. P.D 1653/2015 Siddiq Leather Work v. Province of Sindh and others
315. Const. P.D 1923/2015 Messrs NC Electric Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
316. Const. P.D 2029/2015 Messrs Syed Mohammad and Sons v. P.DO Sindh and others
317. Const. P.D 2049/2015 Messrs Sapphire Wind Power v. Province of Sindh and others
318. Const. P.D 2215/2015 Messrs Meezan Edible Oil v. Province of Sindh and others
319. Const. P.D 2216/2015 Messrs Mezan Te (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
320. Const. P.D 2349/2015 Messrs FKW Global Communication (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
321. Const. P.D 250/2015 Ms Load Limited v. Province of Sindh and others
322. Const. P.D 3081/2015 Messrs Huffaz Seamless Pipe v. Government of Sindh and others
323. Const. P.D 3208/2015 Messrs IIL Stainless Steel (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
324. Const. P.D 561/2015 Mushtaqim Dyeing and Printing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. P.DO Sindh and others
325. Const. P.D 601/2015 Hudson Pharma (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province Of Sindh and others
326. Const. P.D 6619/2015 Pak Arab Fertilizers and others v. Province of Sindh and others
327. Const. P.D 7779/2015 Thal Boshoku Pakistan v. Province of Sindh and others
328. Const. P.D 874/2015 Messrs Biotech Energy v. Province of Sindh and others
329. Const. P.D 2015/2016 Messrs Crescent Powertec Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
330. Const. P.D 2205/2016 Messrs Al-Momin Packaging v. Province of Sindh and others
331. Const. P.D 3655/2016 Messrs Nishat Commodities (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
332. Const. P.D 4032/2016 Messrs Hi-Tech Lubricants (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
333. Const. P.D 4033/2016 Messrs Hi-Tech Blending (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
334. Const. P.D 4335/2016 Messrs Maple Leaf Power Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
335. Const. P.D 5410/2016 Indus Motor Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
336. Const. P.D 5411/2016 Sapphire Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
337. Const. P.D 5412/2016 Sapphire Fibres Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
338. Const. P.D 5413/2016 Amer Cotton Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
339. Const. P.D 5414/2016 Umer Farms (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
340. Const. P.D 5415/2016 Firhaj Footwear (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
341. Const. P.D 5416/2016 Faisal Spinning Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
342. Const. P.D 5417/2016 Bhanero Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
343. Const. P.D 5418/2016 Bhanero Energy Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
344. Const. P.D 5419/2016 Blessed Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
345. Const. P.D 5424/2016 Thal Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
346. Const. P.D 5463/2016 Artistic Fabric and Garment Industries (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
347. Const. P.D 5607/2016 Messrs Kohinoor Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
348. Const. P.D 5661/2016 Messrs Rawat Oil and Ghee Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
349. Const. P.D 6085/2016 Messrs Sky Linker Business Chain v. Province of Sindh and others
350. Const. P.D 6086/2016 Messrs Royal Zone (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
351. Const. P.D 6152/2016 Messrs Utman Ghee Ind. v. Province of Sindh and others
352. Const. P.D 6153/2016 Messrs Pan Asia Food Products v. Province of Sindh and others
353. Const. P.D 6154/2016 Messrs Al-Makkah Oil Refinery v. Province of Sindh and others
354. Const. P.D 6234/2016 Messrs Nishat Agriculture Farming v. Province of Sindh and others
355. Const. P.D 6325/2016 Lucky Entertainment (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
356. Const. P.D 6326/2016 ICI Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
357. Const. P.D 6327/2016 Lucky Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
358. Const. P.D 6328/2016 Gadoon Textile Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
359. Const. P.D 6487/2016 Lucky One (Pvt) Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
360. Const. P.D 6488/2016 Younus Textile Mills Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
361. Const. P.D 6489/2016 Lucky Energy (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
362. Const. P.D 6490/2016 Lucky Landmark (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Govt. of Sindh and others
363. Const. P.D 1755/2017 Messrs Glaxy Rice Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
364. Const. P.D 2746/2017 Al-Muqeet Textiles (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
365. Const. P.D 275/2017 Messrs Lucky Knit (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
366. Const. P.D 347/2017 Tapal Tea (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
367. Const. P.D 6347/2017 EFert Agritrade (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
368. Const. P.D 643/2017 Shahbaz Garments (Pvt.) Ltd. and others v. Province of Sindh and others
369. Const. P.D 6500/2017 Messrs Amreli Steels Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
370. Const. P.D 6928/2017 Messrs Indus Motor Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
371. Const. P.D 7164/2017 Thal Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
372. Const. P.D 730/2017 Pakistan Aluminium Beverages Can Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
373. Const. P.D 765/2017 Messrs C.A Textile Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
374. Const. P.D 8140/2017 National Foods Ltd. v. Sindh and others
375. Const. P.D 8358/2017 Abdul Hafeez Shafi Leather v. Province of Sindh and others
376. Const. P.D 8400/2017 Sargodha Jute Mills Ltd. v. Province of SIndh and others
377. Const. P.D 8401/2017 Shahzad Textile Mils Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
378. Const. P.D 8408/2017 Premier Textile Mills Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
379. Const. P.D 8448/2017 Packages Ltd. v. Sindh and others
380. Const. P.D 8449/2017 DIC Pakistan v. Sindh and others
381. Const. P.D 8450/2017 Bulleh Shah Packaging (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
382. Const. P.D 8491/2017 Messrs Liberty Power Tech Ltd. v. Sindh and others
383. Const. P.D 8492/2017 Messrs Libery Mills Ltd. v. Sindh and others
384. Const. P.D 8494/2017 M.A.K Automotive (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
385. Const. P.D 8511/2017 Engro Polymer and Chemicals Ltd. v. Sindh and others
386. Const. P.D 8676/2017 Tri-Pack Films Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
387. Const. P.D 8750/2017 Messrs Trade Ocean International v. Province of Sindh and others
388. Const. P.D 8752/2017 Advance Telecom v. Province of SIndh and others
389. Const. P.D 8817/2017 Margalla Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
390. Const. P.D 8818/2017 Olympia Blended Fibre Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
391. Const. P.D 8819/2017 Jamhoor Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
392. Const. P.D 8820/2017 Rawal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
393. Const. P.D 8821/2017 The Lahore Textile and General Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
394. Const. P.D 8822/2017 Tribal Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
395. Const. P.D 7613/2017 Atlas Honda Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
396. Const. P.D 7614/2017 Atlas Battery Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
397. Const. P.D 7615/2017 Atlas Engineering Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
398. Const. P.D 7616/2017 Atlas Metal (Pvt.) Ltd. and others v. Sindh and others
399. Const. P.D 1075/2018 Shamim uddin Ahmed and others v. POS and others
400. Const. P.D 1265/2018 Engro Foods Ltd. v. Sindh and others
401. Const. P.D 2984/2018 Messrs Krystopac Energy (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
402. Const. P.D 3265/2018 Pakistan Cables Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
403. Const. P.D 3267/2018 Messrs Trade Ocean International v. Province of Sindh and others
404. Const. P.D 345/2018 Munib Abdul Rauf v. Province of Sindh and others
405. Const. P.D 3942/2018 Messrs Krystalite Products (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
406. Const. P.D 442/2018 Messrs Agar Textile (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
407. Const. P.D 5003/2018 Messrs Kausar Ghee Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
408. Const. P.D 5235/2018 KIA Lucky Motors Pakistan Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
409. Const. P.D 5605/2018 Messrs A.K Oil and Ghee v. Province of Sindh and others
410. Const. P.D 7698/2018 IL Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
411. Const. P.D 7728/2018 Saleem Memorial Trust Hospital v. Province of Sindh and others
412. Const. P.D 8321/2018 Memon Motors (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
413. Const. P.D 8345/2018 Messrs Kashmir Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
414. Const. P.D 8764/2018 Messrs Marclum Ind (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
415. Const. P.D 877/2018 REckitt Benckiser Pakistan Ltd. v. Sindh and others
416. Const. P.D 1067/2019 Messrs International Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
417. Const. P.D 1462/2019 Messrs Salim Winding Works and others v. Province of Sindh and others
418. Const. P.D 1629/2019 Messrs Lucky Electric Power Company Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
419. Const. P.D 2028/2019 Messrs ASCO International (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
420. Const. P.D 2607/2019 PSO Co. Ltd. v. Sindh and others
421. Const. P.D 2666/2019 Messrs AAA Plastc v. Province of Sindh and others
422. Const. P.D 37/2019 AlKaram Textile Mills (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
423. Const. P.D 4258/2019 Messrs G- Pac Engergy (Pvt) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
424. Const. P.D 4334/2019 Messrs Hyundai Nishat Motors (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
425. Const. P.D 4335/2019 Messrs Digital Apparel (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
426. Const. P.D 4374/2019 Power Cement Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
427. Const. P.D 5149/2019 Messrs Platinum Agro Oil and Ghee Ind (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
428. Const. P.D 5442/2019 Ms Bara Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and thers
429. Const. P.D 5540/2019 Messrs Universal Tube Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
430. Const. P.D 5611/2019 US and Dynamo Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
431. Const. P.D 5886/2019 Messrs H.Sheikh Noor ud Din and Sons (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
432. Const. P.D 6129/2019 Messrs Kohinoor Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
433. Const. P.D 700/2019 Messrs Naveena Steel Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
434. Const. P.D 7293/2019 Engro Peroxide (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
435. Const. P.D 7485/2019 Messrs Lucky Commodities (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
436. Const. P.D 7532/2019 Messrs Garibsons (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
437. Const. P.D 7569/2019 Messrs Hascol Petroelum Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
438. Const. P.D 7814/2019 Olympia (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
439. Const. P.D 8023/2019 Messrs J.B Ind v. Province of Sindh and others
440. Const. P.D 8519/2019 Qasim International Container Terminal Pak Ltd. v. Sindh and others
441. Const. P.D 1261/2020 Zahidjee Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
442. Const. P.D 1286/2020 OTO Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
443. Const. P.D 1311/2020 PSO Co. Ltd. v. Sindh and others
444. Const. P.D 137/2020 Messrs SS Fashion Resources v. Federation of Pakistan and others
445. Const. P.D 181/2020 Messrs Megna Processing Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
446. Const. P.D 182/2020 Messrs Megna Textile Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
447. Const. P.D 2601/2020 Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan v. Sindh and others
448. Const. P.D 2793/2020 Messrs Artistic Fabric Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
449. Const. P.D 3038/2020 Messrs AR Sovent and Ghee Ind. Ltd. v. Province of Sind and others
450. Const. P.D 3039/2020 Messrs Gul Shahzad Steel Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
451. Const. P.D 3040/2020 Messrs Maqboolo Plastic Ind. v. Province of Sindh and others
452. Const. P.D 3041/2020 SB Steel Metal and Pipe Mills v. Province of Sindh and others
453. Const. P.D 3261/2020 Aisha Steel Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
454. Const. P.D 3303/2020 Messrs Fatima Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
455. Const. P.D 3304/2020 Messrs Gul Edible Oil Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
456. Const. P.D 3419/2020 Messrs Management Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
457. Const. P.D 3593/2020 Archroma Pakistan Ltd. v. Sindh and others
458. Const. P.D 3652/2020 Atlas D.I.D (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
459. Const. P.D 3653/2020 Atlas GCI (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Sindh and others
460. Const. P.D 3993/2020 Messrs Ocean Plastic and Metal Solution (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
461. Const. P.D 4089/2020 Messrs Win Pipe Industries (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
462. Const. P.D 4090/2020 Messrs Unity Foods Ltd. v. Federation of Pakistan and others
463. Const. P.D 4404/2020 Messrs S T Cold Rolling v. Province of Sindh and others
464. Const. P.D 543/2020 PSO Co. Ltd. v. Sindh and others
465. Const. P.D 5796/2020 Messrs Dalda Food Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
466. Const. P.D 5797/2020 Messrs Oil Processor of Refinery (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
467. Const. P.D 5990/2020 Exceed Petroleum (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
468. Const. P.D 6071/2020 Messrs Master Motors Corp v. Province of Sindh and others
469. Const. P.D 6215/2020 Messrs Hi Tech Lubricants Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
470. Const. P.D 6222/2020 Messrs Roomi Fabrics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
471. Const. P.D 6223/2020 Messrs Mahmood Textile Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
472. Const. P.D 6224/2020 Messrs Masood Fabrics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
473. Const. P.D 6225/2020 Maqsod Spinning Mills Ltd. v. Province of Sindh others
474. Const. P.D 6245/2020 Messrs Pakistan Synthetics Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
475. Const. P.D 6246/2020 Messrs Amna Industries v. Province of Sindh and others
476. Const. P.D 800/2020 Be Energy Ltd. v. Sindh and Others
477. Const. P.D 801/2020 Byco Petroleum Pakistan Ltd. v. Sindh and others
478. Const. P.D 97/2020 Printkraft (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
479. Const. P.D 98/2020 IRC Dairy Product (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
480. Const. P.D 1098/2021 Bismillah Textile Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
481. Const. P.D 1171/2021 Tufail Chemicals Ind and others v. Province of Sindh and Others
482. Const. P.D 1205/2021 Oncogen Pharma (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and Others
483. Const. P.D 1421/2021 Shafi Agro (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
484. Const. P.D 1459/2021 Inovi Telecom (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
485. Const. P.D 442/2021 Service Long March Tyres (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
486. Const. P.D 660/2021 Messrs Fimcotex Ind (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
487. Const. P.D 876/2021 Pakistan State Oil Co. Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others
488. Const. P.D 2450/2021 M/s. Hi Tech Oil and Ghee Mills (Pvt.) Ltd. v. Province of Sindh and others MH/I-6/ Sindh ?????