Aleema Khan did not seek amnesty on Dubai property, SC told

LAHORE: The Supreme Court on Saturday, while hearing a case regarding foreign properties owned by Pakistani citizens, ordered that investigation against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, 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.

A day earlier, the Supreme Court had ordered the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to submit details of Aleema Khan’s property and tax amnesty in a sealed envelope.

A special bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar today heard a suo motu case pertaining to foreign properties owned by Pakistani citizens at the Supreme Court's Lahore Registry.

As the hearing went under way, the land revenue board commissioner submitted a sealed report on Aleema Khan’s properties and said, “She did not seek tax amnesty on her apartment in Dubai and false reports are being run on media in this regard.”

Upon being questioned by the court, the land revenue board commissioner added, “Aleema Khan was issued a notice on February 8, 2018 for not declaring the property. However, she was not in the country at the time and thus could not comply.”

The land revenue board commissioner further told the bench, “She took loans from a bank to purchase the property which was repaid through the rent earned on it. After loan repayment, Aleema Khan sold the apartment.”

Ordering that the investigation be made part of the record, the top court adjourned the hearing of the case till December 6.

Allegations

On October 27, FIA had submitted in Supreme Court details of 44 close relatives of prominent political personalities who owned properties in the United Arab Emirates.

The list submitted by FIA mentioned Aleema Khan’s benaami property. The agency had told the apex court that the premier's sister had been sent a notice.

Chief of Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took suo motu notice of Aleema’s property in Dubai on November 28.

The chief justice, who was in London to raise funds for building dams in Pakistan, was informally speaking to journalists when they drew his attention to the matter of Aleema Khan’s properties abroad.

This month, Aleema deposited half the total cost of her previously undeclared Dubai property with tax authorities as penalty.

Aleema paid 25 per cent of the total estimated amount of her luxurious flat, "The Lofts East-1406", in taxes and 25 per cent fine charges, officials had said. The prime minister's sister was slapped with a double penalty (taxes and fine) because she did not disclose the said property worth around Rs74 million.

The said luxurious flat was located in the heart of Dubai, adjacent to Burj Khalifa, the most expensive area in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), added the officials.

Aleema, in her affidavit submitted with FIA team, stated: "The Lofts East:1460 was paid for from funds generated from my business dealings overseas. Further, I have already disposed of my property and have also informed the FBR about the purchase and sale of the said property."