KARACHI: Eleven lawmakers from Sindh representing the Pakistan Peoples Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in the provincial and national assemblies and the senate paid no income tax during the current financial year, it emerged on Saturday.
Some of them claimed to be landlords or businesspersons and in certain other cases, both landlords and businesspersons, but they paid zero income tax to the national exchequer.
The list of names containing details relating to the income tax paid by parliamentarians has recently been posted on the Federal Bureau of Revenue website.
Of the 11 parliamentarians, five belong to the PPP, five belong to the MQM, and one is associated with the PTI.
Sources said they did not pay income tax despite the fact that many of them resided in affluent areas and contested direct elections for which their expenses were said to be in millions.
MQM lawmaker Waqar Hussain Shah is a businessman who paid zero income tax. He contested the general elections from PS 128, Karachi XI.
PTI’s Khurram Sher Zaman is one of the Sindh Assembly members who paid zero income tax. Living on Khayaban-i-Muhafiz, DHA, the lawmaker owns KBC restaurant situated on Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan Road in Saddar.
PPP MPA Advocate Fayaz Ali Butt is a landlord. He won the general elections from Dadu. Living in Askari-III, Karachi Cantonment, he paid zero income tax.
PPP lawmaker Mir Allah Bux Talpur is a landlord. He contested the elections from Badin. Residing in Country Club Apartments in DHA Phase V, Talpur paid zero income tax.
Saira Shahliani, who was nominated by the PPP for a seat reserved for women in the Sindh assembly, belongs to Jacobabad. She also resides in DHA Phase V and did not pay income tax.
MQM lawmaker Sajid Ahmed contested the general elections for the National Assembly from NA-256 (Karachi XIX).
Sanjay Perwani also belongs to the MQM. He was sent to the National Assembly on a seat reserved for minorities.
MQM lawmaker Nighat Mirza was elected to the Senate on a seat reserved for women.
MQM MPA Arif Masih Bhatti won a seat reserved for minorities. He lives in Naz Plaza on M.A. Jinnah Road.
Shahnaz Begum, who is associated with the PPP, was sent to the Sindh Assembly on a seat reserved for women.
Sardar Kamal Khan Chang belongs to the PPP and he contested the general elections for the National Assembly from Badin and Tando Mohammad Khan constituency.
Three other legislators, who paid very little amount of income tax, belong to the PPP.
PPP legislator Ali Nawaz Shah who won PS-65 (Mirpurkhas II) in the general elections paid income tax of Rs905, according to the FBR.
PPP lawmaker Sardar Mohammad Bux Khan Mahar is a businessman and landlord. He lives in Mahar Palace in Khangarh, Ghotki, besides having a residence in DHA Phase VI. He paid income tax of Rs4,960.
Shamsunnisa won the National Assembly seat of NA-238 in Thatta. Residing in DHA Phase V, the lawmaker paid income tax of Rs8,635.
Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2015
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