FBR says it will initiate appropriate legal proceedings against PTI chief if any actionable discrepancy is found. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD: In a move to keep thorn-in-the-government-flesh opposition leader Imran Khan at bay, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has begun scrutinising his tax history.
Submitting a reply on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) constitutional petition, the FBR told the Supreme Court that it was verifying the petitioner’s (PML-N) claims against Imran Khan regarding tax evasion.
Nawaz, Imran paid less tax in 2015 than previous year
The FBR in its reply also stated that if it found any actionable discrepancy, it would initiate appropriate legal proceedings against the PTI chief.
PTI lawyer Chaudhry Faisal Hussain cast doubts over FBR’s independence, contending that all such departments were politicised by the rulers and the government was trying to compel Imran Khan to back out of the Panamagate issue. “Such tactics will not work on Imran Khan,” he asserted.
PML-N leader Hanif Abbasi – who lost NA-56 Rawalpindi seat to Imran – had filed a constitutional petition, seeking to disqualify Imran Khan for concealing his sources of income. The petition was filed on his behalf by Akram Sheikh.
The FBR maintained that it had started the verification process on information provided by the petitioner.
Sharif family laundered Rs145m to evade taxes, claims Imran
Regarding the ownership of offshore company, the FBR also informed the SC that it issued a notice to Imran Khan under Section 176 of the ITO, 2001 on September 2.
The FBR rejected the petitioner’s allegation that the FBR was failing to discharge its duty in accordance with the law in alleged financial irregularities and misconduct by Imran Khan, adding that the petitioner’s allegations were incorrect.
Legal provisions and mechanism for probing such financial issues / matters were provided in the Income Tax Ordinance 2001 and relevant rules and regulations, FBR was quoted in its reply to the SC as saying.
Earlier, the FBR told the Supreme Court that only 133 of 336 individuals responded to notices it served on them.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2016.
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