Unfortunately, some of those in power within ruling elite, establishment are involved in massive tax evasion themself
DUBAI: When crime is allowed to flourish in any society, any criminal act not punished in accordance with laws because of political exigencies, and where laws are selectively applied, anarchy takes over. In a country where approximately 270 police officers fell victim to targeted killings in just one month, June 1995, and not a single murderer was arrested, you cannot expect the police to stand up for the law. How can we expect customs authorities to nab highly influential and corrupt people involved in money laundering or smuggling under such circumstances? If public memory is not short, there is a history of unexplained killings of key witnesses and law-enforcement officers pursuing high-profile cases, such as the state prosecutor who was found hanging in his room in Islamabad a few years ago.
When the US wanted to prosecute Al Capone in 1931, there was no witness protection programme and the public prosecutor concluded that nobody would be willing to serve as a witness against the the mafia don. The US government and the Internal Revenue Service decided to investigate Capone for tax evasion because organised crime, black money and tax evasion are all interlinked. Capone was successfully sentenced to 11 years in prison.
If Pakistan wants to eradicate terrorism, organised crime and massive pilferage of state revenue by powerful and corrupt criminals, the only way punishments can be given to mass murderers and the powerful elite involved in robbing the state of billions of dollars is through political will and trying criminals for tax evasion. Unfortunately, some of those in power within the ruling elite and the establishment are involved in massive tax evasion themselves and, therefore, are unwilling to set any precedents, where high-profile criminals are convicted of nonpayment of taxes.
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, July 29th, 2015.
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