KARACHI: Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan said Thursday that being a former cricketer in England, he knows how expensive a foreign tour can be, yet the present leaders despite their minuscule ‘declared assets’ were making extravagant foreign trips.
Khan, addressing the Bar Council in Karachi, said that the current leaders say they are “democratically elected”, but do not even know the meaning of it.
“The first thing in democracy is accountability and transparency,” said Khan, adding, “The leader starts with himself.”
Taking elections in the west as an example, Khan said that from union council elections to those for electing the prime minister and the president, “the leader first declares his assets, the amount of taxes he had paid and his sources of income”.
He said that without these three things, one cannot be a candidate abroad and if they lie about even one, you don’t just lose your post, you go to jail.
“It is called perjury,” said Khan. “Lying under oath can get you a jail sentence.”
“Those who have declared their assets, look at their declared assets and their lifestyles," he said.
“When you take a look at their assets, you will say add them to the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP).”
Asking people to look at the lifestyles of these leaders, Khan said, “I have played professional cricket in England for 18 years, I know how expensive it is.”
He said that the leaders spent their holidays too lavishly to have such little assets.
“Look at how they go to England and spend their holidays,” he said. “They shop at Harrods, it is the most expensive store there.”
Khan questioned where they got the money from, adding that they “don’t even pay their taxes”.
“This is that class, I tell the people of Pakistan, which if not defeated then this country will have no future,” said Khan.
Referring to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Fasih Bukhari’s statement of daily corruption worth Rs8 billion per day, Khan said that those who are indulging in the corruption have made a law for themselves that does not let the court touch them.
COMMENTS (43)
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@Zahid Hussain: tell that to the media. when they report anyone as having paid taxes despite an MNA/ MPA salary they forget that little figure. which is why you have these miniscule amounts being reported. salaries, interest recieved from bank accunts, dividend etc all deducted. its not uncommon to claim a refund due to witholding tax. our media only partially reports.
@MAD: Deduction at Source is none of mystical terms for any tax payer.
Tax Payable is a number preceding 'deductions made at source'.
@Zahra: you missed two more questions. 1) who dismissed the elected government of balochistan which resulted into a long insurgency and a sense of deprivation among balochs, which is there even today. 2) who suspended the 1973 constitution after 4 hours of its life.
If you believe the non sense that the some of our politicians claim like Gilani, they are paupers that can't afford a car. However their wives sons daughters etc are fantastically rich. Scams like this should be stopped.we know a scam when we see one.
Has anyone here ever heard of deduction at source. Pretty common in taxes. I havnt made a specific tax payment in years although i file annual returns. all my income is deducted at source. Judging from the nonsense most commentators are spewing here i already know most of you dont pay tazes cause you dont know the basics of a tax return.
@Nand: Legally or through betting please clarify your question.
@Nand: India is MFN to iK. He has so much personal intrest there how can he be watching the national intrests? Create a shield of attacks on others and hide behind it your lackings, but this trick faint quick as we can see him clear now.
@Only PTI: Twice the word drum beat is used then he will start for dancing, PTI nice innocent young people open your eyes and see every thing is day light. Love you all.
@Eyeing Propaganda: He is a current stage drama. Yo yo does not move but rotate on the same spot. You know why unable to change the topic, inability to think and speech.
Can IK state how much money he has made from all the India visits?
These elections are all mockery
@Marxist ZA Bhutto was an astutue politician but not the best leaders - read unbiased history before you reach conclusions. OR answer these:
1) Who caused the war of 71? Who did not accept the election results which Mujibur Rehman had won? 2) Who declared Ahmedi's to be non-muslims in 73 to save his own back from "Mullahs"? 3) Who, despite being a heavy alcoholic, ban alcohol due to pressure from the Islamist fascists - hence starting what Zia later continued? 4) Who nationalised the industry (nationalised meaning took industry from businessmen) and then reversed nationalised (meaning gave the industry back to ..his feudal friends)
For now answer these ill bother you with more questions when you have answered these :P
File a case against such people and get them disqualified for elections in future
Rightly said, purity in his thoughts and with a very clear mind - Khan is a ray of hope for our troubled country.
Not just that Mr. Khan... Judges and Generals also have a very lavish lifestyle. Oh... I see... their sons are working really hard to honorably earn a living for them.
Dear IK, did you ask Shah Mehmood or Omar Asad to declare their assets? Its a very nice thing to declare assets ? I agree with the principles. I just dont get why you have nt done it urself.
Eeverytime Shah Mehmood Qureshi talks, all his answers are perfect, but yet, different from his last interview. I think Khan's answers are all the same
At least someone is saying it for what it is. As for those who wonder where IK gets his money from, he has mentioned it infinite number of times that he takes few days off every now to do a political commentary. In fact, he gives breakdown of how much money he made during all of his recent trips.
Imran himself also visits abroad quite frequently. What about his own wealth? It is vetry easy to criticize others. Imran is always crying.
@Saud: i believe his last tax return indicate personal income in excess of Rs 20 Million. should be enough for a single man
good speech
@Awans Live in real world. If you are looking for diversity , check 'lifestyle /fashion pages , don't read about politics or comment on it.
Well that is the right note - the other one is jobs for the people.
@Marxist: @Saud:
Pls do not nourish bad faith about IK. I know him personally, and many others like me too. He is a person different that those you see in the political arina.
@Saud: Here, some people had once arranged a trip for Mr. Khan and all his trip was financed by the organizers. It was for the fund collection of SKM Hospital.
Good one Kaptan...continue druming this beat untill an ordinary Pakistani will start demanding the same accountability for his/her leaders.
@Awans: IK is not giving lecture in his fifth grade where he has to diversify his topic. Since we are facing the same problems, he will continue to address them at every occassion. It seeams a right approach to me.
Agree with quite a lot with what IK said.....but the fact remains that majority of this nation is unwilling to pay direct taxes. Even majority of the lawyers, whom he was addressing are non tax payers. wouldnt it be better if IK should have at least appealed to them for filing honest tax returns. A true leader doesnt shy away from saying what is the truth...of course in a polite manner. Merely, scoring points by pointing fingers will not lead us to anywhere. Finally, how many office bearers of PTI has disclosed their assets and sources of income......and we have yet to see elections when there will be every kind of people vying for tickets.
Mr. khan should mature up to the level where he should start doing what he says......this will be the biggest difference between him and 'them'. otherwise there is very little difference, if any.
Yes mr. Khan you are right , Go for Civil Disobedience movement once again on this issue.. :)
@Awans - brother IK is not a comedian so that he keeps changing his talk. He is not out there for your entertainment. He is talking what the reality is and his repetition has infact made people realize the core problems of this country. You are advised to plz go and watch a stage drama if you want diversity and some fun !
Imran Khan doesn't pay any taxes himself, so how does he make his lavish trips abroad? Just recently, he cancelled a trip to the United States.
The bourgeoisie will remain the bourgeoisie until we get a leader like Comrade Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
Does your life style Mr. Imran match to your income? You are having a five star life all around the world without any income. Who pays for your helicopter trips in Pakistan, who pays for your international trips, who has paid for your houses in Islamabad and Mianwali? Politics has become business now. Every one wants to bring revolution but indeed is doing business. I will also like to start a new revolutionary party because otherwise I cannot afford a 400 kanal house in Islamabad and cannot afford a helicopter trip. This way I will also be able to do international five star trips to bring revolution.
What about all the foreign trips Of Mr. Khan? Turkey, USA, China, UK ..... Please account for these first.
My question is what is FBR doing?. Do they not know the real assets (both within and outside the country) of the political leaders . I think the first blame should go to FBR who are abdicating on their responsibility
Absolute truth: "Those who are indulging in the corruption, have made a law for themselves that does not let the court touch them".
Allah bless you, Imran !
time for the anti-justice/accountability trolls to attack
My teacher used to say that when Redundancy becomes an integral Part of Speeches of a leader then its demise is going to start sooner or later. Mr Imran Khan please add diversity in your speeches as Redundancy does not work everytime.
PTI must take the first step to make public all the assets of its officials. PTI supporters should also declare their assets. Only then PTI will be able to ask others to go the same way.
I have also filed my Income Tax Returns a couple of months ago. Please note I support PTI.
Khan should have asked the audience as to how many of them paid taxes. It is surprizing that the people who support him are tax evaders and Imran promises to put tax evaders behind bars. Either IK will not do what he promises or all his supporters will start paying taxes.
The most honest leader of Pakistan. Live long IK.
Yes but does anyone care ? As those policing them too are playing same game, hence the state of country's treasury, which is empty and has been piling up debt notes to be repaid thru further borrowings ! This Country simply does not have a Tax Base, and no Political Party is likely to change that !