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SC orders Aleema Khanum to pay Rs29.4m as fine, tax on foreign properties
The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Aleema Khanum, Prime Minister Imran Khan's sister, to pay Rs29.4 million in taxes and fines.
A three-judge SC bench, while hearing a case against 44 politically exposed individuals or their benamidars who possess properties in the United Arab Emirates, remarked that failure on Khanum's part to oblige to court orders will result in confiscation of her properties.
In today's hearing, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) told the court that a fine and tax worth Rs29.4m has been placed on Khanum, who has been identified as benamidar of a property.
Khanum, who was present in court today, took the stand and said that she had bought the property abroad in 2008 against $370,000 and that she had sold the said property in 2017.
Khanum told the court that she had raised 50 per cent of the amount required by taking a loan.
According to Khanum's written testimony submitted to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), she owned properties in East UAE. The properties were created through the earnings of businesses owned abroad.
"I sold my properties and the FBR was notified about this development in advance," Khanum said in her written testimony.
During the hearing, the FIA submitted a summary regarding foreign properties in court.
According to the summary, 96 more Pakistanis have been identified for having properties abroad. The total number of Pakistanis with properties abroad is now 2,154. Out of these, 1,208 people own properties in the UAE.
At least 21 Pakistanis that own these properties have been sent notices in accordance with the court's orders, the summary said and at least Rs45m have been recovered from these people.
This case is the result of a list of politically exposed people which was submitted as part of an annexure to a three-judge SC bench comprising Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Faisal Arab and Justice Ijazul Ahsan.
Taking suo motu notice of the matter, the apex court had observed that it appeared the money siphoned off abroad without payment of taxes through illegal channels represented either ill-gotten gains or kickbacks from public contracts.
“Such money creates gross disproportion, inequality and disparity in society, which warps economic activity and growth, and constitutes plunder and theft of national wealth,” it had said.
In an earlier order, the court had also observed that it was common knowledge for years that a large number of Pakistani citizens were maintaining their bank accounts in other countries without disclosing these to the authorities competent under the laws of Pakistan or paying taxes on the same in accordance with the law.
Comments (92) Closed
No one being spared in current drive for accountability. Wonder why the opposition parties are making such fuss over their accountability then,
She technically does not qualify for NRO, but in my opinion it has been given to her and on paying the fine case will be dropped. Naya Pakistan has started to show its real face.
Naya Pakistan , getting legalized your corruption...........
That sounds about right... understand Aleema has 1 property in Dubai worth about AED 2Mn (PKR 60Mn).
I understand that Pakistanis are required to pay 25% in tax and 25% as penalty to regularize such transactions not informed to Pakistan authorities.
Well and good. Can the same thing be done to Sharif's, Zardari, etcs, foriegn properties. Their cases seems to just keep going with zero results.
Looks like none of the powerful mafia paid any money in fines.
Why always mention, sister of IK. He is not responsible for her dealings. She should pay and close the chapter.
I wonder Imran Khan didn't speak even a single word in favor of his sister Aleema Khan... No compromise on corruption or illegal transactions...this is why I like him...
Question remains how she accumulated such wealth? How property worth +60 billion is being fined a peanut amount of 24 million?
Nice. How convenient ? Can we also Regularize poor people's homes in Lahore and Karachi like Banigala Illegal Encroachment OR like Aleema Khan settlement to rest all Pakistanis ?
Disqualifications and arrests for PMLN and fines/warnings for PTI!! If Aleema does not have any known source of income, doesn't it point finger on the PM? If NS children could not justify their assets, they call for charging NS.
@Zak, she sits on the board and collects donation for NAML and SKMT on behalf of our PM!
The law is not same/equal for every one in Pakistan..
In old Pakistan, a traffic challan of the family of Prime Minister was impossible. In new Pakistan, the sister of Pakistan can be fined heavily. That's a clear difference.
Sure, such things were not possible in the past. This is real change that even the sitting PM sister is not spared. While 3 times EX PM sons are sitting abroad!!
@ZAK when sharif familys individual persons are called as sharif sons and daughter n family, why not IK sisters should be referred as IKs sister. it shd be same standard for everyone
@A KHan, no one is spared, that is ryt. But why one is allowed to pay fine n let go and others to go to jail! This is double standard in naya Pakistan
At Least Aleema Khanum had money trail the only issue was a declaration, unlike Nawaz family having no money trail.
@A Khan, proof of independence of institutions
@umar,
Can you let us know what corruption Aleema Khan has done?
How come Sharif,Mariam and Safdar have not paid their fines yet and no action appears to have been taken against them?
What about money trail and how she earned the money?
Why no JIT for her ? Or Jahangir Tareen or Imran Khan. I guess open ended investigations are only for opposition. For the government it’s pay the fine and case closed.
she was not public office holder but she appeared in court and accepted its decision with great smile.
Good conficate her money . IK is clean person so he is not bother. What ever court decide.
@Maverick,
So the 60bn mentioned by NS was lie.
Good decision. Anyone taken Amnesty given by Previous government should also pay regular Tax as well as Penalties. No discrimination where Tax is concerned.
How quick responded our court in this case – why they are not showing such efficiency in other cases ? What about the other names , appeared in the list?
@Zain Ansari, She has been sitting on the board and collecting donations for SKMT long before our current PM even had the slightest idea that he would be the PM. To narrate as you did is disingenuous. Secondly, what she does with the money she earns in her private capacity without holding any public office is in no way connected to the prime minister.
so corruption is legalised,they also wont check money trail as then IKs name will come in front.So you can do illegal things,get money and buy property abroad and pay fine afterwards.
@A Voter, you didn't notice she had provided bank statements but Sharifs and Zardaris provide no proof and they held public office.
Easy way out.
@Maverick, and is not a political person, never held a public office, no charges of corruption or fraud. However yes she did tax evasion by not declaring her 1 property in Dubai, so as per tax law, has been fine significant amount, so that is justice. NRO is mainly for corrupt politicians who have looted public money and land. Hope that clears things
Corruption becomes legalized when done under PTI.
Why money trail was not asked? What was her source of income? She is heading SKMH as director so public interest demands to ask why she made properties worth billions? What has happened to us, as we collectively closing our eyes on huge corruption at one area and dont forget the cases against NS. We are collectively gettibg down the drain
If she void any tax then she must be subject to punishment. But it,s bit harsh penalty. Prominent characteristic people should not become escape got for professional tax contravention.
Because she is a relative of PM she has been made example and in present era. Isnt is good and healthy.
Why can't we fine these mafias who have looted in trillions ...
@shafiq u rehman, Ya she presented them in court in virtual realm and you acted as the witness in the physical realm.Common Man she ain't got no money trail the only thing going for her is that she is sis of im and he is in the good books of thems
@Maverick, What else could be done. Is she Public Office Holder or she had launder money from Pakistan to UAE? We should not draw parallel between cases just because she is sister (non political) of Prime Minister.
@umar, The corruption is not proved on her. She is a successful businesswoman. She Pays fine and goes free is according to the law of your land.
@Maverick, NO ONE technically qualifies for NRO! I am surprised how justified the crooks of PMLN and PPP are being made to look like. NRO was an abomination...an illegal move that destroyed the constitution. It legitimated corruption for both the uniformed and the uninformed.
Imran Khan should have told Aleema to escape to London, as is done by Hassan Hussain Nawaz, Salman Shahbaz and many others to avoid facing court,
She has never been in government and still had to pay tax evasion. Hope the other two will also be fined
This shows that nobody is above law, no matter who they are or what is their status in society.
@A Khan, because they go to jail over charges and investigations and PTI cronies just pay fines and roam free...
What about money trail?
Was she asked for the money trail?
Recovering money is more important and its starting from Prime Minister, which is setting a good example.
Wonder when AZ would face the Music... or is it like a musical chair where the music stops for a specific person close to the chair...
@Maverick, you pay the fine and that's the end. It is not an NRO. An NRO is where you pay nothing and walk away scot-free. How many millions did Sharifs and Zardari pay for the NRO last time? Do you remember? I remember..... none.
Where did she make all these money.
@Shuaib, Please don't spread false Rumours ..Its not worth 60 billion .
Justice served...court should impose heavy fines on tax evaders which (hopefully) will help the economy. I disagree with NRO comment as once the fine is paid the citizens should be cleared to go. Anyone and everyone should be offered to put things right by doing the right thing. If this lady had laundered ill gotten money from Pakistan to UAE to stashed it away then she should be punished accordingly but it sounds like that the money was earned abroad and through legitimate means.
To put things in the proper perspective,the imposed fine and taxes on Aleema Khanum of 29.4 million rupees amounts to PR 3 crores, or 2 lakh American Dollars ($200,000) which is peanuts for the wealthy in Pakistan.
@A Voter, Well said sir.
It is what it is, if it’s proven that she should pay, then so be it, the law operates on a level field.
@Salman:I am surprised today you did not mention your famous line 'where is the money trail?'.
as per FBR 21 Pakistan have been sent notices & Rs 45 million recovered from them while Rs 29.4 million being recovered from Ms Allema khan, Why ?
@Shuaib, Have you read the full report above, as per FBR report in SC, 21 people in UAE sent notices & a total of Rs 45 million recovered from them, while Rs 29.4 million being recovered from 1 person Ms Allema khan, what kind of calculation is this ?
@Omer, there is difference between a child & a women & while the father is supposed to know how their kids made money when they were kids in the 90s, IK is not responsible for his sister source of income, that is upto the court to get it investigated & that goes for all those people who have been identified.
@raj kumar, can you proof of her corruption ? you will do a great service to our country if we get this information, otherwise, stop giving this kind of statement.
Now she can raise more funds :)
Peanuts! Legalised corruption
@Zaid,
Good question
Once again money wins.
No one should be above the law - Plain and Simple
Return or reward of Aneel Mussarat's hospitality has beed paid,and it should be
@Maverick, - Be sensible and accept ground reality, as there is NO comparison between Aleema Bibi and Nawaz Sharif, Shabaz Sharif and their respective family members. Sharif family have been in power for 35+ years and looted tax payers money, purchased overseas properties and attending courts for their black activities. Whereas, Aleems Bibi never held an official government position and have NO corruption cases against her - these are facts and don't twist reality with your fake and unsubstiated notions.
Pti walas will raise the 29.4 million in one day to pay it off. Don't say she isn't going to benefit from imran khan.
@Canpakman, - brother the only difference is she is the public office holder and did not loot govt and poor people money.
She has never held any job in the government nor has held any political postion so she cannot be equated with corrupt politicians and the money she paid to buy the house was through the earning in foreign countires. This fine and tax is a substabtial punishement huge fine and tax
I know the IK haters will keep hating him no matter what but can one of them tell me that was it possible to bring Zardari or Sharifs etc sisters, sons, daughters etc to court while they were PM or President? And on top of it penalized too.
Forget about filing a suit against Zardari or Sharif's families, you can't even do anything to their drivers when they were in power. I am proud of IK. This is how it should be i.e. IK's sister is being punished by courts yet he did not interfere in courts or investigators matters even though he is the PM. This shows in IK world no one is above the law and I can finally say that Pak can move forward now. Salute to you IK as under your leadership, I see Pak has a future.
When will she pay? It is important.
Let's see what happens. Will the amount be actually paid or not.
But we still have billionaire businessmen who defraud the system by paying litttle tax. A man with income in billions, houses, 4x4 Jeep’s gets away with paying 15000 rupees tax per year.
Don't understand this. There are tens of thousands living and owning properties abroad with single or dual nationalities.
@Ayesha , until it’s announced in the press who knows?
Imran Khan and his relatives are no more cleaner than the previous rulers. Who in Pakistan is clean !?!?!
This is crooked. She and her brother should be in jail. They are getting the favorite treatment. Horrible.
A clearly visible example of the Supreme Court penalizing a person related to the party in power. Hope for a just system stays alive.
Rich women I stopped paying my zakat to SKMT ages ago for donation money scandals
Where did the Aleema Khanum get the money to buy any property in UAE? This woman has never worked and has no qualifications to earn that kind of money that enabled her to buy those properties. Will the Prime Minister say some thing about it? After all, she is his sister.
I wonder what the Prime Minister has to say on the matter. He must have some idea how his sister got the moeny to buy those properties.
Plain field accountability PPP and PML-N corrupts should not cry when charged with corruption acts.
Law is same for every Pakistani.
Where is the Ministry of Educatiion in all of this?
What is their role and why didn't they taken the necessary steps before the SCP had to step in??
@ali ahmed, she provided money trail thats y she only had to pay fine
What is her business or source of money? Does anyone knows?
@umar, I wonder where is the corruption here. Did she steal anybody's money? Has she ever held a governmental post? Nonsense note.
They need to investigate where the money came from to buy these properties in the first place then she should be jailed just like Nawaz Shareef's daughter was jailed. Next Imran should be jailed because this is all black money. They are all crooks, he is just now getting exposed.
@ishrat salim, "@raj kumar, can you proof of her corruption ? you will do a great service to our country if we get this information, otherwise, stop giving this kind of statement" Mam,she has to prove it,how despite being not so qualified she bought property of that value,it should be the same way you proved NS corrupt and put him behind bars,though i am no fan of NS either.
@Shuaib, This is naya Pakistan, Embrace PTI, pay peanuts and fly free. Or remain in opposition bring your 5 Generations old documents or else behind bars..