SC seeks details of Aleema Khan’s property, tax amnesty

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday, while hearing a suo motu case on foreign properties owned by Pakistani nationals, directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to present property and tax amnesty details of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar is hearing the suo motu case on foreign bank accounts and assets owned by Pakistani citizens.

As the hearing went under way, the matter pertaining to the PM’s sister owing property abroad was also raised and the FBR adopted an ambiguous attitude towards it.

The chief justice asked the FBR chairman, “Does Aleema Khan own any property in the United Arab Emirates.” The FBR chairman in response said, “There is no official confirmation regarding this as yet.”

“If Aleema Khan declared the property in her amnesty scheme then the matter is confidential. If the court orders, we will present a record of the amnesty scheme,” the FBR chairman added.

Justice Nisar then inquired, “Does Aleema Khan own any property in Dubai or did she declare any foreign property in her amnesty scheme. This matter is being highlighted for days now.” At this, a member of the land revenue board said that Aleema Khan owns a property abroad. 

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked, “To claim the amnesty scheme, foreign properties need to be declared. Why are you not telling us this when the chief justice is asking you.” The member of the land revenue board responded, “I was talking about confidential details.”

Justice Nisar turned to the member of the land revenue board and said, “Is Aleema Khan’s property in your name or is it your property? Why do you keep bringing up that it is confidential?”

The chief justice ordered, “Provide us with sealed details of Aleema Khan’s property. We will review the details ourselves.” The bench also sought details of Aleema Khan’s tax records.

Further, Justice Nisar told FBR and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials, “We want results in the case on foreign properties owned by Pakistani citizens.”

“You sent notices to all of Pakistan and there is no focus on the properties the court had asked for,” the top judge remarked.