The Supreme Court on Friday disposed off the Cantonment Board Karachi’s plea challenging the Sindh High Court’s order in which it declared the professional tax levied by the board as unconstitutional.

A three-member bench led by CJP Qazi Faez Isa conducted hearing on the Cantonment Board’s plea. During the hearing, the CJP observed that taxes levied by the cantonment board are both unconstitutional and in contradiction with transparency.

The apex court ordered the officials of the board to return the amount collected under the professional tax.

During the hearing, CJP Isa asked why shopping malls were being built at the land given to the cantonment board. The land was given to the military for a specific purpose and was not meant for commercial purposes, remarked the CJP.

He said that institutions were being brought to their constitutional purpose.