ISLAMABAD: While hearing a suo motu case on foreign properties owned by Pakistani nationals, the Supreme Court on Thursday came down hard on the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman and an income tax official for putting the investigation into the case of Pakistani citizens holding undisclosed foreign bank accounts and properties abroad in cold storage, and sought a report on the inquiry against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan by December 13, a private TV channel reported.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the suo motu case about foreign bank accounts and assets owned by Pakistani citizens. As the hearing started, the chief justice remarked, “We had ordered to look into 20 individuals who owned properties in Dubai, but is an inquiry being conducted against others who bought foreign properties?” The FBR chairman told the court, “We are forming special zones to look into Pakistanis who own properties in Dubai and special zones have been formed to deal with offshore accounts.” At this, the chief justice inquired, “Where is the special committee report?” “What is the report regarding the 20 individuals who appeared before FBR … board should inform us about its performance till now,” the top judge added.
The FBR member informed the court, “We have recommended further investigation into 14 of the 20 people.” The chief justice then asked, “Why has further inquiry been recommended against Waqar Ahmed?” However, the counsel said, “Waqar Ahmed appeared before FBR and was not summoned again.”
When the FBR member said that tracing assets was the job of the field officers, the chief justice said, “It seems that FBR did not understand the court order. The court had formed a joint investigation team (JIT) which had to trace assets of 20 individuals.” At this, the FBR member said, “Naushad Ahmad declared seven properties and six before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). An audit of his foreign assets is under way.” At this, the chief justice said, “The court did not ask you to conduct an audit.”
The court issued contempt of court notices to FBR chairman and a member of the income tax department for non-compliance with the court orders and ordered them to submit a reply within three days. However, the notice was later withdrawn upon FBR member’s request.
The chief justice remarked, “You people want to prolong the case. FBR is prolonging the matter and also creating confusion.” He further questioned, “What happened in the Aleema Khan case?” At this, the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sought time till Tuesday. “We will make a committee within three days and submit details in the court,” the DG FIA said. However, the chief justice said, “Why shouldn’t we suspend the member operations. If FBR does not want to be respected, then we won’t respect it. Does FBR want to save those who send money abroad?”
Published in Daily Times, December 7th 2018.
