Supreme Court seeks FBR report on foreign assets of Pakistanis

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Federal Board of Revenue to submit a detailed report on the assets and properties owned by Pakistanis abroad.

A three-member bench of the apex court led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard a case pertaining to the foreign assets of Pakistanis.

FBR chairman, who was in attendance, told the court that the bureau has set up offices countrywide to look into the case. He said 775 people have submitted their affidavits regarding assets owned abroad.

He further informed that there are 60 cases of foreign properties that are more lucrative and hence, there is a chance of retrieving greater revenue from these cases. These cases will be dealt with on priority basis, the official added.

The chief justice in his remarks observed that the sooner the money was returned to Pakistan, the better it was for the economy.

“We are entrusting FBR with the responsibility to bring wealth back to Pakistan,” Justice Nisar remarked.

The court then directed FBR and the Federal Investigation Agency to submit a detailed report on the matter by January 14, and adjourned the hearing till then.

Earlier during the hearing, FBR also told the bench that Aleema Khan, the sister of Prime Minister Imran Khan, had not yet paid Rs29.4 million as ordered by the Supreme Court. She has until January 13 to pay the amount, the bureau added.

The apex court, while hearing a case against 44 politically exposed individuals or their benamidars who possess properties in the United Arab Emirates earlier in December, had ordered Aleema Khan to pay Rs29.4 million in taxes and fines.

Earlier today, the Supreme Court also sought details from the government about the development and reconstruction plan in the 2005 earthquake-hit areas of the country, as it heard a suo motu notice of alleged embezzlement in grants and donations meant for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake survivors.

Justice Nisar, while hearing the case, remarked that if the dams were not built then he would also join the victims in protests. “No hospitals or schools were built, nor the new Balakot. The survivors are still living in tents and camps in the worst conditions,” he lamented.