SC to examine legality of Pakistanis property abroad

Khudayar Mohla
Islamabad, (TLTP) Supreme Court has decided on Thursday to ascertain income source of 20 Pakistanis who hold properties abroad and availed previous government amnesty scheme.
Resuming the hearing of a case over foreign accounts of Pakistanis, a three-member bench led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar came up with the decision after examining report of director general Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the matter.
Submitting report before the bench, director general Bashir Ahmed Memon disclosed that as many as 35 political personalities and their associates owned properties in Dubai. He informed that the FIA has initiated investigations against as many as 3570 Pakistanis who own properties worth Rs1,015 billion in Dubai.
The report disclosed that nine benamidaars have been identified as well as 150 extremely rich individuals who own properties worth Rs30 billion. Memon said in report that investigation was halted against 386 persons who benefitted from the amnesty scheme saying those who owned 374 properties in Dubai benefitted from Tax Amnesty Scheme 2018.
It has also been stated in the report that a total of 150 people admitted that they did not declare their foreign properties in their tax returns. “674 people recorded their statements before FIA team and 900 Pakistanis illegally own properties in Dubai,” the report said.
Director general of the FIA submitted that 150 people out of the total 894 own 203 properties, with each estimated to be worth a minimum of Rs50 million.
The report disclosed as many as 44 people who benefitted from the tax amnesty scheme were facing NAB cases whereas the report added that a total of 200 people disclosed their properties while recording their statements but did not benefit from the tax amnesty scheme. The report further said that Federal Board of Revenue didn’t agree to extend facility for 2500 people, intended for amnesty during June 2017.
Expressing dissatisfaction over response of the government in the matter, Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar observed, “ I am profoundly thinking to let the matter disposed of after which the government should take its own course against the people involved in money laundering because the matter in hand doesn’t seem to be concluded in January 2019”.
To which, Governor State Bank claimed that currently it is difficult to launder money of the country after the Supreme Court has taken notice in the matter saying Asset Recovery Unit has also been empowered to address the situation.
Responding to query of the Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar that what hinders government from apprehending the suspects whose names were identified, the AGP submitted that law of the land doesn’t allow to arrest such people. “ I cannot go beyond ambit of the law”, the AGP said.
During the course of proceedings, Memon submitted before the bench that the agency has details of foreign properties of several Pakistanis, but has no details of their bank accounts.
Director general Memon and Governor State Bank submitted that foreign banks can only provide information about accounts of Pakistanis for tax purpose saying Pakistan has no jurisdiction over such foreign banks.
Later, the bench adjourned the hearing of the matter till November 01.
After hearing of the matter, Attorney General for Pakistan Anwar Mansoor Khan submitted a list of 20 Pakistanis who have claimed amnesty 2018 including Waqar Ahmed of Lahore, Naushad Haroon Chamdia CEO Std. Securities (pvt.) Limited of Karachi, Muhammad Amin of Karachi, Zubair Mueen of Lahore, Sheikh Tahir & Majid Kapur of Sialkot,Islam Salim of Karachi, Agha Faisal of Quetta, Syed Muhammad Ali of Karachi, Nayar Sheikh of Lahore, Khawaja Muhammad Ramzan of Lahore, Muhammad Saeed Minhas of Gujranwala, Imtiaz Fazal of Multan, Fawad Anwar of Karachi, Abdul Aziz Rajkotwala of Karachi,Noureen Sami Khan of Islamabad, Humayun Bashir of Karachi, Shujhur Rehman Goraya of Lahore, Sardar Mumtaz Khan of Islamabad, Sardar Dildar Ahmed Cheema of Lahore and Faisal Hussain of Karachi. END