LAHORE: An accountability court on Tuesday summoned the Inland Revenue commissioner along with the record of the audit conducted into the accounts of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.

During a cross-examination of a prosecution witness, Shehbaz’s counsel Amjad Pervez pointed out that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had not presented any record of the audit of the tax documents of his client in the reference of money laundering and illegal assets.

Presiding Judge Jawadul Hassan directed the commissioner Inland Revenue to appear at the next hearing and submit a certified record of Shehbaz’s audit.

Responding to different queries of the defence, Audit Officer of Inland Revenue Ibrahim, the prosecution witness, said he had not supplied any record of the suspect to the investigating officer. He said a tax filer was not bound to explain income sources of independent members of his family.

The witness admitted that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) could ask a taxpayer about his sources of income anytime. However, he expressed his ignorance when asked as if the record of a tax filer was a confidential document.

With the permission of the judge, Shehbaz reiterated his role in unearthing corruption in Chiniot mines’ contracts and saving billions of rupees of the public. The judge, however, reminded Shehbaz that the case was not before the court. The judge adjourned further hearing till Jan 16.

The jail officials brought Shehbaz and his son Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz to the judicial complex amid strict security. All the roads around the complex were closed by placing containers and barbwires.

Another accountability court adjourned a reference of illegal assets against former principal secretary to prime minister, Fawad Hassan Fawad, and directed the NAB to present its witnesses on Feb 11.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2021