Islamabad (Staff Report): The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday ordered Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan to pay Rs29.4 million in taxes and fine.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar resumed the hearing of a suo moto notice regarding the foreign assets.
Aleema Khan and her lawyer Salman Akram Raja appeared before the court.
During the hearing, the CJP asked PM’s sister about the value of the property at the time of purchase to which she replied that she bought the property for $370,000 in 2008 and sold it last year.
Responding to the CJP’s query whether she bought the property from her own money, Aleema khan said she took a loan from the bank while 50% of the total amount was her own money.
The Counsel for Aleema Khan , Salman Akram Raja informed the court that the details of bank transactions and accounts were submitted in court.
Commissioner inland revenue informed the bench that according to evaluations, Aleema has to file tax returns worth Rs29.4 million.
The bench then ordered Aleema Khan to pay the said amount, however, remarked that Aleema Khan will have the right of appeal. The CJP also warned that if the deposit is not made, then her property will be seized.
On December 6, the SC had ordered to submit the inquiry report against Aleema Khan in foreign accounts and properties case by December 13.
The Chief Justice had asked the officials to present the details about the inquiry conducted against Aleema Khan so far. At this FBR operations member said, “We have asked the Lahore office to conduct an inquiry against her.”
The CJP reprimanded the FBR authorities and remarked, “You people want to prolong the case. The court did not ask you to conduct an audit.”
The CJP said “We asked FBR to conduct an inquiry here not in Lahore. We did not direct that the case be sent to filed officers and a committee should have conducted an inquiry on court orders.”
The chief justice further said that the delay tactics were being used in the case. “FBR has even placed Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) efforts in a cold storage.” he added.
The bench issued contempt of court notices against chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and an official of the income tax department and ordered them to submit a reply within three days.
On December 1, ordered that investigation against Aleema Khan, be made part of the record after the land revenue board commissioner informed that she did not seek tax amnesty on her Dubai property.
On November 28, Chief of Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of Aleema Khan’s property in Dubai.
The SC had issued notices to Director General (DG) Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) along with other parties.
