LAHORE - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday sought reply from the Punjab government and Excise and Taxation (E&T) Department on 37 petitions moved by the citizens against luxury tax on residential houses. Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh directed the respondents to file reply until September 5.
The petitioners through counsels submitted that the provincial government through Section 10 of The Punjab Finance Act, 2013 has imposed a luxury tax on residential houses of two Kanals and above, which are located in rating areas. The luxury tax was only imposed in three districts of Punjab, the counsels pointed out. They argued the impugned tax had been imposed on houses which are located in the rating areas specified as Category-A of the E&T which did not include the Cantonment area, EME Colony, DHA, RAYA, Lake View, Bahria Town and Jati Umrah as these were considered as rural areas despite their modern atomic age. The petitioner requested the court to strike down luxury tax on residential houses by declaring it discriminatory, inconsistent and violation of the constitution.
Directives 
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday sought reply from the Model Town police on a petition seeking recovery of a student Usman who was allegedly taken into custody by the police from Raiwind area.
Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi issued these orders on the petition moved by Rizwan seeking recovery of his brother. The petitioner through his counsel submitted that his brother was taken into custody about eight months ago by the police. He added there was no record and case in any police station against his brother.
The petitioner said he was in search of his brother since eight months, but no one was paying heed on his matter. He requested the court to issue instructions to the police to produce his brother and release him.
Following notices, Iqbal Town SP appeared before the court and submitted that Usman was not taken into custody. At this, the court directed the Model Town SP and Raiwind SHO to submit reply till next date of hearing.
CCPO asked to recover PU
student
In another matter, the same court ordered the Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) to recover Muhammad Abid, a student of Punjab University, who went missing from the Qila Gujjar Singh. The petitioner submitted that Abid went missing some weeks ago. The police concerned was not cooperating with the aggrieved family for recovery of the student.
They requested the court to issue instructions to the police to recover the students. The court will take up matter on September 5.