The Supreme Court today issued an interim order against the increase of the Value Added Tax which was implemented by the government on May 2.

The court gave this order when five petitions against the VAT increase was considered today by a three member bench headed by the Chief Justice.

The court also directed that the interim order will not be effective if the increase of VAT is implemented through parliamentary approval.

The petitioners argued that the VAT increase was illegal and infringes fundamental rights, since according to current law, the Parliamentary legislation must be amended for the increase of the VAT of certain commodities.