SC seeks details of Aleema Khan's UAE property, tax amnesty

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to present property and tax amnesty details of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan.

Hearing a suo motu case on foreign properties owned by Pakistani nationals on Friday, a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar took up the matter pertaining to the PM’s sister owing property in Dubai while FBR adopted an ambiguous attitude.

When the Chief Justice asked the FBR chairman Jehanzeb Khan whether Aleema Khan owns any property in the United Arab Emirates,  he replied that there was no official confirmation regarding this as yet.

“If Aleema Khan declared the property in her amnesty scheme then the matter is confidential. If the court orders, we will present a record of the amnesty scheme,” the FBR chairman added.

Justice Nisar then inquired whether Aleema Khan declared any foreign property in her amnesty scheme as the matter is being highlighted for days now.

Upon this, a member of the land revenue board said that Aleema Khan owns property abroad.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan remarked that to claim the amnesty scheme, foreign properties need to be declared.

"Why are you not telling us this when the Chief Justice is asking you?" Justice Ijazul Ahsan observed.

To this, the member of the land revenue board responded that he was talking about confidential details.

Justice Nisar then turned to the member of the land revenue board and inquired, “Is Aleema Khan’s property in your name or is it your property? Why do you keep bringing up that it is confidential?”

The Chief Justice then ordered the officials to provide the bench with sealed details of Aleema Khan’s property.

Clarifying that the bench will review the details, the apex court also sought details of Aleema Khan’s tax records.

Further, Justice Nisar told FBR and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials that the bench sought results in the case on foreign properties owned by Pakistani citizens.

“You sent notices to all of Pakistan and there is no focus on the properties the court had asked for,” the top judge observed.

The apex court is hearing the suo motu case on foreign bank accounts and assets owned by Pakistani citizens.