SC directs PM’s sister to pay Rs29.4M as taxes, fine in foreign assets case

islamabad — The Supreme Court on Thursday directed Aleema Khanum, the sister of Prime Minister Imran Khan, to pay Rs29.4 million to public exchequer as taxes and fine within a week.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, passed the directions while hearing a suo motu case in connection with foreign properties owned by Pakistani nationals.

Justice Saqib Nisar remarked that failure on part of Aleema Khanum to obey court orders will result in confiscation of her properties.

To a query, Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Aleema, apprised the bench that his client bought the property in the UAE for $370,000 after getting a loan equivalent to 50 per cent cost of the property from a bank in 2008. However, after a year it was sold, he added.

Salman Akram Raja further pleaded that Rs18 millions were due to her client which would be deposited.

A representative of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said that a fine and tax worth Rs29.4 million has been placed on Aleema Khanum, who has been identified as benamidar of a property.

Subsequently, the bench directed Aleema Khanum to pay Rs29.4 million within a week or be ready to face action by the authorities.

Justice Nisar remarked that “Aleema will have the right of appeal but before that she will have to file her income tax returns”.

Justice Nisar took a suo motu notice of Aleema Khanum’s property in Dubai on November 28. The chief justice, who was in London to raise funds for building dams in Pakistan, was informally speaking to journalists when they drew his attention to the matter of Aleema Khanum’s properties abroad. — APP

Aleema Khanum can take legal action against FBR officials, however, before filing an appeal she will have to file her income tax returns

Supreme Court