Former president Pervez Musharraf punches the air after appearing at the Sindh High Court in Karachi on March 29, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
The former president and military chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf owns assets worth Rs645.011 million in and outside of the country, but has made zero contribution in terms of tax.
According to the nomination papers Musharraf submitted to contest elections from NA-48 Islamabad, the APML chief’s income has increased by Rs129 million during 2012.
The former president did not pay a penny in tax during the last three years, as his nomination papers submitted to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) showed the tax column as blank. Musharraf also did not mention the source of his income in the nomination form, but the annexure he submitted has not been uploaded on the website. In the nomination form, he did not mention his plots and the much publicised farmhouse in Chak Shahzad, where he currently lives.
However, some of the assets he put on his form include shares worth Rs1.961 million, cash in hand Rs5 million and furniture worth Rs6 million. He declared his personal expenses at Rs8 million.
The former army chief also declared in his nomination form that there are three FIRs pending against him in three Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs) in Rawalpindi, Quetta, and Islamabad, which have been registered in 2007, 2009 and 2009, respectively.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (72)
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1dollar=100PKR 1pound=150PKR Still the amount is a lot ... can they actually show the original cop of candidates on media?? cause i sure would like to see what Mr.Sharif and Zardari wrote
Also if the guy has showed this wealth then chances are he can proof his income...no harm in tht, I hate those people who write they live in a rental apartment when they are actually the owners of acres and acres of land...the media should go after those goons
@Imran Khan: Thats approx 6.5 mil USD.
For someone who earns USD 100K for a couple hours as a speaker, its really not much...... wake up to the real world.
Not also that Rs129 million was made in 2012 alone when he was OUTSIDE of pakistan.... better than the rest of the politicians who earn within pakistan and hide / spend abroad.
To all people saying Musharraf is a tax defaulter, he is NOT. As a NRP he isn't liable to pay any taxes. His lecture series netted him upwards of $150,000 (average) each. He has given many of those. Additionally all his properties are under his business which directly pays taxes. Those taxes do not appear on his personal income statement (which is common sense).
We Pakistanis like to jump to conclusions without using our brains. At least think about this:
Musharraf has declared he has assets worth 65 crores. The surufa brothers have declared that they only have total assets worth 1.5 crores (their Raiwind farm is allegedly worth 600 crores alone). I have no doubt in my mind that amongst all the looters of Pakistan, Musharraf is the most honest.
He have guts and can move Pakistan in Positive angle
Musharraf was a much better leader than current looters and plunderers. As for as tax is concern, he is not supposed to pay tax if he is not in Pakistan and source of income is not from Pakistan.
@abid Mohiuddin: "Just for your knowledge he was paid $ 3 million per lecture in US (30+ lectures- has written book which was best seller in USA plus he has two pensions and many more legal income"
And you are his accountant? Do you have copies of the paychecks. I live in USA and I do not recall ever hearing that his book was a best seller.
Here he is known to be how do they say it? (Somebody who can't be trusted)
And people how think musharaf is their IRON Man, it is not because hes so brave to come back to pakistan, it is because he is a retired army general and he knows Army will protect him no matter what. You can not say hes brave because he has got more than two dozen of SSG commandos walking around his house. If a lay man supports him, I would understand but you guys sound like you have been through some kind of a school.
These people that support musharaf are equally responsible for the mess this country is in today. He only spent these 5 years outside Pakistan and that DOES not exempt him from tax. He served all his life in Pakistan so the foreign income that he is claiming was actually taken from here. To all my fellow overseas pakistanis, unlike us he did not spend hours working odd and real jobs building his assets that he can claim as tax free. WHY IS EVERYONE SO BLINDED. The protocol that he walks around with is not paid by his foreign masters but it is the tax money of pakistani citizens. Moreover, being a Pakistani citizen you have to file taxes irrespective of the fact that you may or may not owe anything to the government, AND if your foreign income exceeds a certain limit, then you have to pay a percentage of tax on that or you can renounce your Pakistani citizenship. IS THAT TOO HARD TO GET ?
Musharraf belongs to the elite group of highest paid speakers in the world. If you take a lower rate of $ 150,000 per lecture it works out to be approx Rs. 15 million. If you calculate on a minimum of 30 lectures only take would be Rs. 450 million. His income from book being best seller also netted a huge sum.
I believe he must have made millions from his book only. I still want to see the breakdown of how he made that money and how many plots were allotted to him.
In My Humble Opinion, He Should Go Back To England/USA. That's Where He Belong.
All of you who speak without thinking. Try converting $1 in Rs. Musharraf gave many dozens lectures all charging in dollars and nothing less then $100,000. It's not his fault the currency he left depreciated so much that the value of foreign holdings increased massively. And one doesn't pay taxes when he has been earning abroad and living there. Aand besides, just research on how much money and property retired Chiefs of our army earn then you'll know generals are not poor. Just because he has honestly showed what he holds doesn't make him evil but its good he did. If only Zardari and Nawaz Shariff truly show their assets People would really be shocked.
@lahori: - how can he pay tax if he is leaving in UK from last 4 years…… why meida is against loyal pakistanies
income from the property situated in Pakistan is liable for tax in Pakistsan . Simply staying in UK will not exempt from tax [payment. Did Musharraf disclosed his source of wealth? how and when these assets have been acquired ? ( definitely not from the salary he was drawing). Ignoring the bitter truth of corrupt practices. . In a democratic set up no one is above law . Equal treatment to all.
It is ironic that some think Mush is a non resident of any one single country and therefore he should not pay any income tax to any country! There is no dual taxation between may countries and Pakistan. However, he must pay income and other taxes to at least one country of his main residence.
@Rex Minor:
Who do you propose should stand from within the jail walls?
Do you think the current 62,63 will allow the Jail lord to contest? Think..... or are you giving the lawless some new, and I must say crazy, great ideas man!!!!! :)
In a country where millions live well blow the poverty line, how come some people are so shamelessly RICH ?
Tax the rich folk~~~~~~~and spend tax-payers' money with genuine accountability !!!
@Yasir: The general elections are not for electing the President of Pakistan FYI.
645 Million Rs , is only the declared wealth. He kept it very low so that you do not have a heart atack if he declared his real wealth he has amassed including many plots/real estate. Taxes ? Zero.
Musharraf is brave, truthful and honest. We must be proud of Musharraf as he is top rated speaker in world. My vote for Musharraf.
I know its law that as for govt official for one property, property tax for one of his home is waived off while as rightly said above Musharraf sahab has named the farm in his wife name so no tax there. I believe and im certain Musharraf sahab is an honest man and if it came to give him (or there ally) my vote i wont hesitate for a single bit.
Firstly he didnt pay the said tax because he wasnt in the country for more then 4 years! He has no business entity to earn from here first. When he hasnt earned (taxable) anything here how can he say about its relevant tax. He didnt earn anything from Pakistan since past 4 years excluding his pension which follows all govt regulations. While secondly as an army chief's worth the said amount which he has rightly mentioned. While he has earned his livelihood through lectures. Don't believe me google it his lecture circuit info can be found on internet if searched thoroughly. He is an honest man who has rightly mentioned everything. He hasnt earned anything from Pakistan (since past 3 yrs) that he can be taxable for.
Are the prisoners in Pakistan Jails allowed to stand for being elected for the parliament? What says the law of the lawless country?
Rex Minor
Misleading News. He wasn't in Pakistan and anyone with a little knowledge of Finance and Taxation will laugh at this. And about his wealth his book was a bestseller and he gave so many lectures so that's not a big amount. And I salute him for mentioning his wealth honestly. Otherwise we have people like Hamza Sharif who doesn't even own a Suzuki Mehran.
Educated people who work hard get returns. And if you work in the US and bring it back to Pakistan- it comes down to a lot of money geniuses!!!! But the amount is taxable only abroad. It is only taxable in Pakistan if it is not taxed abroad, subject to certain conditions!
Musharraf is not the kind of person who can live in any place without being noticed and not being charged taxes!!
So cut the crap- he paid his TAXES ABROAD!!! FIND OUT HOW MUCH WAS THAT!!!
He will be considered a non-resident nevertheless as per section 81(2) read with 82(a). However, his Pakistan-source income continue to be liable for taxation considering 101(3). Even if he declares he doesn't have any business/property in Pakistan, he would definitely be earning Army pension, which is covered under 101(11). There is no way the tax column could have been blank. Somebody guided Musharraf wrong!
Being rich is not a crime if sources of income can be substantiated. Since he was a non-resident and his sources of income were also outside Pakistan he is not liable for any tax. So declaring him a tax defaulter is wrong.
95% assets of PM are four properties on which there is no income tax but only property tax. Secondly three out of five properties are outside Pakistan hence the tax doesn't apply. One out of the two property got completed three months back. On both properties property tax has been paid
95% assets pf PM are four properties on which there is no income tax but only property tax. Secondly three out of five properties are outside Pakistan hence the tax doesn't apply. One out of the two property got completed three months back. On both properties property tax has been paid
He is a brave and fair person. There are no corruption charges. He is retired army general with huge monthly pention, post retirement property benefits, lectures, old lands/houses whose value appreciated over time. His assets are just nothing compare to Zardari and Nawaz Sharif who have in billions but don't declare.
Im not a Mush voter, my vote is for PTI (and your vote should be for PTI too). However....
This article could have used some feedback from a tax expert to determine whether his overseas earnings (HE HAS BEEN OVERSEAS FOR SEVERAL YEARS) is taxable.
Im not a tax expert but im not sure what big issue is about his assets. Rs 645 Million is USD 6.45 million. THAT IS NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN ANY CASE. Yes, you can question how he earned USD 6.5 million over his lifetime. For his most recent source of income please see: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/08/22/musharraf-in-the-money.html
He charged $150,000 - $200,000 per day in 2008! Assume he charged $150,000 and assume that all his $6.5 million came from this. Therefore divide 6.5/0.15 and you get 43 days worked. Do you find it unbelievable that he spent 43 lecture days over these years? We arent even including book earnings or whatever else he saved and invested in over his lifetime.
Im seriously disappointed at the quality of this article which seems to aggrandize that the person is guilty of something without actually bothering to check.
If he is guilty of some violation in penalize him under the law and reject his nomination, but dont post such articles without actually looking into the matter.
I think 630 million out of 640 million are from US AID.
@Mohammad..... brilliant work by you.... i do the same and hope everyone abroad does the same... good luck & keep it up
@buttler: LOL thats why I suggest to open the eyes and mind. The world is bigger than what we see in local newspapers. Please scrutinize him for the money and you will come to know that he is a renowned speaker representing UN. And he is earning money because of his education and his stature.
By the way let me tell you one thing that there is not a single case of corruption against him. He had served the country as a soldier (a highly paid but the most difficult of the jobs).
@buttler: None of your business : Musharraf is the only one who is truthful and bold and sincere Just for your knowledge he was paid $ 3 million per lecture in US (30+ lectures- has written book which was best seller in USA plus he has two pensions and many more legal income
As a non resident even Canadian do not pay taxes . Thank you Musharraf
Oh wow ET moderators, too biased to post my comment? Post it already!
A) Please mention that he did not pay taxes from 2008-date as he was not earning in Pakistan B) You yourself reported a few months back that Chak Shehzad farmhouse is under his wife's name. He gifted that to her 3 years ago. That's why she came to Pakistan to fight this from the biased judiciary C) Give the man a rest! His net assets only goes to show, he's already got enough money to not loot it from his country. He's not accused by any INTL body (TI) for being corrupt. RESPECT. D) People talking about "OMG HOW DID HE MAKE THAT MONEY" ... i) his books royalty ii) his salary from COAS + Presidency for 8 years. I m sure they don't earn peanuts iii) Lectures iv) Interviews he gives on TV v) thinkthanks he has appeared on vi) foreign gifts that he was given when he was the President (every country + govt gets those gifts. get a grip)
Please stop the bias and adhere to journalistic values! Thank you.
@Pakistan First:
Please read the Pakistani tax law. Non-residents are required to pay tax on Pakistan source income. It can safely be assumed that Musharraf generated plenty of Pakistan source income through rent, agricultural income from his estate in Bhawalpur because he certainly did not get paid 129 million last year by universities for lectures.
according to income tax ordinance a person eligible to pay tax should be in pakistan for more than 180 days in a year (from 1st july till 30th june (period of financial year). he is ineligible to pay tax. however, withholding tax can be deducted on source
@Mohammad: I can totally relate to it. I am a frequent flyer landing at Isl / Lhr airport a few times every year. Islamabad airport staff is cordial, professional, efficient & easily at par (well mostly) with many international airports regarding staff (only the facilities need to be upgraded, which will eventually happen with new airport).
Lahore airport is a hub of curruption. Every time i use this airport, there is this threat of opening the luggage (& then having to pack it again myself contrary to Isl airport where airport staff is always helping to put the things back) or PAY a few bucks and enjoy a smooth sailing.
@Vaqas Uddin:
He didn't need to sign an NRO because he knows that the Army would never allow its former chief to come to harm. Unlike politicians he is getting retrials, pre-arrest bails and permission to be present through attorney all in first instances at every hearing. Speaks for itself, doesn't it.
He will not be getting my vote.
Musharraf made a quite good money from his book http://www.amazon.com/In-Line-Fire-A-Memoir/dp/1439150435 and from international universities who invite him for talk during last few years. Nothing Illegal about that.
Pakistanis residing outside Pakistan are not subject to taxes, provided they are outside the country for determined period. As for the income, you forget he wrote a book on Amazon's top 10 list. He has been given over 30 lectures since 2009 globally being paid at tier 1 rates synonymous with Clinton, Carter etc. usually in excess of $250000 per lecture.
@liaqat ali:
Thanks Liaqat but the article does not mention the businesses or commercial properties that belong to Mush. Maybe the shares that he is holding are taxable?
how can he pay tax if he is leaving in UK from last 4 years...... why meida is against loyal pakistanies
Musharraf is answerable to the nation.....since he earned from Pakistan and has is properties here....he is liable to pay taxes!! and then again I never knew army officials were that rich!!
I dont think Musharraf is an NRP and exempted from tax!! He has his properties in Pakistan he is liable to pay taxes. He is answerable to the nation over non paying of taxes....if he expects them to vote for him!!
Mushraf did some big mistakes but He is brave because arriving Pakistan He didn't sign any NRO like Benazir, Asif Ali Zardari
@FN:
He assigned himself seven houses in the capital as per Ayaz Amir when he was COAS. Looking at these figures that was only the start. He should be delcared ineligible to run after leaving the taxes column blank. Just a matter of follwing the rules.
@Muhammad: You don't pay taxes in Pakistan because you don't earn in Pakistan. However, Mr. Musharraf's properties and income is supposedly all out of Pakistan. How can he get away with not paying taxes in Pakistan???
Think before you vote...........Who is innoccent in Politics........Politics is basic part of capitalism....
Musharraf was running the country very well,the progress were seen in every sector, but he could not controlled the Talban,as he was against the brutal action against them, Americans were angry and in the mean time Benazir Bhutto continually giving assurance to America .if she will be given power in pakistan to finish the talbaniztion, she will controlled within months.American overthrown Musharraff by hatching consipracy with Benazir,unfortunately she herself became victim of Talban.
@Shah: You are not considered non-resident for tax purposes if you have any business or property in Pakistan which is earning money. Musharraf has many.
Rs645.011 million ? How can someone who was an Army General once have so much worth of assets? That number surely shot up once he came to power.
and he is going to save Pakistan!
Musharraf owns peanuts in comparison to Zardari or Nawaz Sharif.
so he is also not paying tax.another Tax defaulter
Pakistan should legislate that assets standing in the name of a person which is disproportionate to his known ( declared in his/ her tax returns. without submission of tax returns no income should stand admissible in such cases) source of income shall be seized without waiting for the completion of legal process. in case the seizure proves wrong the state shall compensate an amount maximum equivalent to 5% per annum of the value of the assets. to encourage this one who informs the state such cases with evidence may be rewarded @ 5 to 10% of the value of the assets. An effective method to arrest corruption . This legislation has reduced corrupt practices by the higher ups ( bureaucrats& politicians in BIhar India) drastically.. Seized assets mostly in the shape of buildings/ houses once seized are used as schools by the government. Till now government has not lost any case in the court.against the corrupt officials/ Industrialist/ for seizing the assets. Mostly the assets so seized are not claimed by any one.
I am an overseas Pakistani for many years and I pay ZERO Tax.. ! My Income is Tax Free. I contribute to my country by being good Pakistani, uplifting the positive image of Pakistan, being nice to other nationalities, defending Pakistan all time, showing that I am the proud of my country, and sending remittances to Pakistan using legal channel.
I am always frisked, cheated and humiliated at Lahore Airport...!
OMG!!! How does a civil servant, a person, who until 2008 / 2009, was fully employed by the government of Pakistan, create wealth to the tune of 64 Crore Rupees. And that too where assets that are in the name of his wife and children are not mentioned. And since he has declared his assets, I am assuming that he has solid proof of source of income against atleast these many assets.
I have nothing against people who get rich through their efforts and hard work. But people like Musharraf, et al, are the parasites that have eaten through the very fabric of this nation!
Dear Express Group, please call him up on one of the talk shows on your channel and ask him to justify his assets. Please. Please. Please.
645 Million Rs. That's a huge amount for a former army general. Can he also mention the sources of his income? and don't tell me he does it from those lectures and that stupid book he wrote once upon a time. and then the farm house?
Don't tell us you earnd this money from lectures.
Zardari\PPP and Musharraf have both destroyed the country in the last 13 years. Yet, neither the press, the lawyers taken legal action that could be brought to conclusion against the governments corruption. Man on the street has been completely neutered to organize protests and strikes to make their voices and demands heard. What kind of people are we?? Morally and ethically bankrupt, yet the financial wealth of both Zardari and Musharraf have grown astronomically.
How much more does he want to make from Pakistan?????
Where did he get the money from...Cant anyone scruitnize this...
Are non resident Pakistanis supposed to pay taxes?
Musharraf made some mistakes but he is a brave man and competent and reliable for Pakistan as he done some better things for Pakistan and if our people vote him and give him a chance to be an President of Pakistan than i think its better choice for Pakistan.