LAHORE, Nov 2: The federal government has sought opinion from the provinces regarding the implementation of proposed anti-benami laws to discourage tax evasion by purchasing property in other people’s names, Punjab Law Minister Dr Khalid Ranjha said on Friday.

He was speaking at a meeting here with his counterpart in Sindh, Justice Abdur Rahman (retired). The Law Department secretary and other officials concerned were also present.

Dr Ranjha said the government has taken a serious notice of the purchase of property in the name of others. In the past, he said certain landlords had transferred land in the name of their employees, relatives and even horses to avoid surrendering it to the state. They had then prepared letters of attorney in their favour to thwart land reforms.

The Sindh law minister said the government was also considering setting a deadline for recovery of back taxes from such owners.

The meeting was informed that the Federal Shariat Court had declared void the Sindh tenancy law under which a landlord could eject a tenant on the expiry of deadline for payment of rent.

Dr Ranjha asked the Law Department secretary to submit a report on desirable amendments in the law so that a joint strategy could be evolved in this regard by all the provinces.

The meeting also decided that Home Department officials would visit the judicial courts complex in the Karachi Central Jail to assess its utility.

Dr Ranjha apprised the Sindh law minister of the steps taken by the Punjab government for the welfare of minorities and protection of human rights.