ISLAMABAD:
While many poll contestants are scrambling to fix their tax documents, there is one family that isn’t daunted by the tax man.
Talal Bugti, chief of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) and scion of the late Nawab Akbar Bugti, claims his family is exempt from paying taxes. “Nawab Akbar Bugti’s family is exempted from taxes — that is why we don’t file tax returns,” said Nawabzada Talal Bugti, without explaining why his family was not supposed to pay taxes to the state.
All this comes amid calls from different political parties that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) must prevent tax evaders and loan defaulters from entering parliament.
Talal Bugti is the only candidate who, through his nominations papers, informed the ECP that he enjoyed immunity from filing tax returns. He is running from NA-259, Quetta. “The Bugti family runs shops and farms, which are the major sources of their income,” he told the ECP. Last year, his family earned over Rs2.6 million from this business. He also has Rs200,000 as net cash in a local bank while he owned property, jewellery, and several other assets worth millions.
The Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR), however, said that no individual under Part VII of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 was exempted from taxes. The part VII, which deals with exemptions and tax concessions states that there is “no exemption to individuals from any tax imposed under Income Tax Ordinance 2001.”
According to ex-FBR chairman Abdullah Yousaf, no individual was generally exempted from paying taxes. “Any person whose income exceeds Rs 400,000 per annum is liable to pay taxes,” he explained. He, however, did not recall whether the Bugtis were exempted from paying taxes.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (10)
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I thought he is the chap who drives around in Hummers and Mercedes with tons of guards. If they only make Rs 2.6million in a year how can afford to keep such luxuries.
We don't take Talal Bugti seriously in Balochistan and you shouldn't take him either. He was kicked out of Bugti family while Nawab was alive, he cannot claim anything now. He is one of the state sponsors to further divide the Bugti family along with Aali Bugti.
What should one say about such person and his ancestors? There is a column "Pakistan 50 years ago" published in one of the leading English daily. About a few months ago, on a particular day, I read that column which highlighted the news of day on the same date but 50 years ago. That news was about Capital punishment being awarded to Akbar Bugti on allegations of murdering his one of the cousins. 50 years ago mean 1962 or 1963.
I, being a honest taxpayer paying more than PKR. 700k annual tax, am hugely upset and distraught. Such people, their ancestors and line of heirarchy, must be annihilated from this land of pure.
@ZZQ: I fully agree with what you say. Even the Queen of England pays taxes. Some years back it was reported in the papers that she had volunteered to pay taxes. In comparison to our politicians and the rich, it is like comparing a beautiful woman to a toad. Salams
Maybe he got an exemption because he was disowned by Akbar Bugti.
Sure why not.Get constitution amended the same way agriculture is exempt from tax You were born to exploit and rule
Tribal culture is criminal culture indeed, he should pay full taxes and no mercy to them. They are nothing but parasite live on poor peoples blood.
Shame on the tribals and feudals. These archaic systems must be annihilated.
Why not abolish axes.Given the small numbers the cost of collection may exceed the returns!
So typical of the exploitative so called tribal and Pakistani democratic system... Poor to obey law and pay taxes... Feudals to enjoy immunity from virtually every crime including taxe evasion, murders etc... all in the garb of so called Nationalism and tribal cutlure...!