Tax evasion: Senators hit back at media for ‘tax theft’ allegations
The lawmakers were united in their demand for a parliamentary committee to investigate the matter, broached by what they termed ‘baseless reports’, and also probe tax evasion by media houses. They also called for stern action against the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue for providing ‘false’ information about parliamentarians.
Earlier, a section of the media reported that as many as 60 senators, including opposition leader Ishaq Dar, Aitzaz Ahsan and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, did not pay any income tax.
Chaudhry Shujaat himself raised the issue before the Senate on Thursday, claiming that contrary to the reports, he and his family members were regular taxpayers. Taking cue from Shujaat, Pakistan Peoples Party senator and presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar took the opportunity to deny President Asif Ali Zardari was evading taxes.
Senate deputy chairman Sabir Baloch regretted that President Zardari’s name was being mentioned among tax evaders.
“The media must avoid maligning the President… He is the chief of the country’s largest political party and such reports hurt the sentiments of the public,” he maintained, adding that even though presidents, premiers and governors were exempted from taxes, the incumbents were regularly paying their taxes.
Ishaq Dar, who was much disturbed by the ‘tax thief’ label being used by the media, said it was “shameful that such language is being used for parliamentarians.” He contended that several media houses were being employed by certain elements in a conspiracy to malign politicians.
Senator Aitzaz Ahsan proposed the formation of a committee to uncover how much tax the media houses themselves were evading. Meanwhile, Senator Afrasiab Khattak proposed the introduction of strict legislation for ‘defamation and damages’ and making media a responsible actor in society.
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This is wrong only IK and PTI member's tax returns can be scrutinized on national tv others are above criticism and its blasphemous to mention that they are evading taxes.
@Humble Pie: Even if he paid 12million. He must be still audited to check whether he showed all the income he earned. This is the job of FBR. If your beloved senetor is so upset we as apublic have the right to know his income. He can show his tax return for the l yrs he has been senetor. What do you think?
Is there any brave senetor in the senate who could present a resolution that every senetor has to release his tax return for the last four yrs in the next 30days. Let these honest senetors defeat this motion? let us see who votes in favour or against it.
@Shahid Butt:
You should take some basic mathematics course. Please see the link I had shared. It says 12 million (not 1.2 million)
@Humble Pie: He paid 1.2 million rupees. but how much he did not pay? Did he show all of his income? It is job of FBR to audit these big guys. In the mean time all these big senetors are crying fowl. They MUST release their income tax returns to the PUBLIC. We have the right to know because they are REPRESENTATIVE of the people. Once they are not SENETORS they do not have too. If president of USA have to show his tax return every yr while in office, what is wrong with PRESIDENT ZARDARI not to show his tax return since 2008. We have the right to know. Simple statements by his associates that he has not cheated on his tax return are not enough. SEEING IS BELIEVING.
@Tasneem:
You know what I intentionally mentioned it as 1.2 million to see the response. As often is the case is with us Pakistanis that we don't check the records and facts but believe in the popular slogans.
Aitezaz Ahsan paid 12 million (not 1.2 million). Please check this article completely before making any sweeping statements: http://tribune.com.pk/story/478812/report-unmasks-tax-evasion-among-pakistan-leaders/
If the information in the public domain is wrong then why don't they release their tax records. Simple.
But they won't because I am willing to bet that these allegations are correct.
Pakistan Peoples Party senator and presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar took the opportunity to deny President Asif Ali Zardari was evading taxes. Where is the proof of AZ paying taxes????
@Humble Pie: I am a salaried person and I pay Rs 1.2 mn in taxes annually and my annual income is nothing when compared to what Mr. Aitizaz Ahsan makes in a year. Mr. Aitizaz Ahsan normally charges four time this amount to fight a single case and he fights quite a few cases in a year. How do I know this? becasue my employers deals with him quite regularly and we know the quantum of business which he gets in one year. HE IS A TAX EVADER.
Wasn't that a a couple of years ago that Mr. Aitizaz Ahsan's name was on front page of DAWN for being one of many who were receving LPG qouta from a certain company called JJVL of Associated Group (the same group which is head deep involved in the rental power scam, amongst many others). I am curious how much tax does Mr. Aitizaz Ahsan pay. After all if you look at the fee charged by him/ his firm to fight cases, he shuold be one of the largest tax payers in the country. Mr. Ishaq Dar should be left alone, he is very poor. After all he is the financial advisor to the Sharifs. Nawaz Sharif only paid Rs 5,000 in tax last time. He himself is having a hard time to manage his empire, how can he afford to give any money to Ishaq Dar Sb.
@Zainab:
According to that report, Aitezaz Ahsan was the highest tax paying senator and had paid more than 1.2 million as tax in 2011.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/478812/report-unmasks-tax-evasion-among-pakistan-leaders/
What's wrong with calling a spade a spade. Why the hue and cry if they are pure and white like snow?
Aitzaz Ahsan exposed - has lost all credibility now.
Classic Pakistan - blame the messenger whenever you get bad news.
@Saleem: Ot os the job of FBR to catch these thieves(chor) one by one and one group after another. FBR must perform its duty in getting the tax-money from them or else put them in jail thru the court.
If these people are so innocent they MUST release their TAX returns to the media so people can judge themselves. This way we will know who is right and who is wrong. Any taker? Yes , you can investigate media also. Let us start the show and see how many thieves we can find? Let Mr Shujat and Mr Darr take the lead. I hope they will accept the challenge and come forward with their tax returns.
Why after media!!! Why they don't ask this question to themselves.They are Thugs and looters. They should be punished stricktly. Aik chor oper say sena zori. Shame Shame
In the end nothing will happen but Muk Muka. All the chors will continue with the loot and plunder. They have a point though; it's not just the politicians but also bureaucrats, generals, judges, industrialists, media moguls who are tax chors as well.
Pakistan's largely rightwing Taliban loving media is perfectly fine misusing freedom of expression to defame elected representatives of the people but in cahoots with the judiciary they cannot tolerate an iota of criticism or face accountability.