Summary

Background Facts: The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) has filed an Application for interim relief in the Appeal filed against the order dated December 04, 2008 passed by a single Member in the matter of fixing minimum hourly charge out rates and minimum fee for audit engagements by chartered accountants (hereinafter referred as the “Impugned Order”). Order: Based on the submissions, the Bench suspended the operation of paragraphs 35, 36 and 38 of the Impugned Order, pending final decision of Bench in the subject Appeal. Moreover, the Appellant are directed to submit their written arguments on or before January 01, 2009 along with the copies of cases/materials relied upon in the Appeal in particular, on the issues that: 1) the Appellant is not an association and/or how Section 4 of the Competition Ordinance, 2007 is not applicable to the Appellant and 2) how enforcement of ATR-14 promotes or ensures competition in the relevant market. Appeal to come up for hearing in January, 2009.