Tax evasion: Senators hit back at media for ‘tax theft’ allegations
Propose formation of a committee to probe tax evasion by media houses in retaliation.
ISLAMABAD:
Beleaguered senators from both sides of the aisle lambasted the media for dubbing them ‘tax thieves’ during Thursday’s Senate session.
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.
Beleaguered senators from both sides of the aisle lambasted the media for dubbing them ‘tax thieves’ during Thursday’s Senate session.
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.