ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has rejected Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri’s request for a one month extension to respond to the board’s notices and submit wealth statements.
The FBR has informed Mr Qadri that he must respond within seven days otherwise he would have face penalty proceedings under section 182 of the Income Tax Ordinance 2001.
Other members of Board of Directors (BoD) and office bearers of Idara Minhajul Quran (IMQ) also requested for a one-month extension. However, the FBR has turned down their applications.
On the other hand, it has prepared a case against the PAT chief and other members and affiliates of the IMQ for evading taxes worth Rs770 million.
The FBR has also issued second notices to Tahirul Qadri and other members and affiliates on the charge of concealing assets.
The FBR sources revealed that their wealth statements do not show all the assets, transactions and accounts which have been recently traced.
According to the notices , FBR requested them to furnish the wealth statement and give details of their assets and liabilities between June 2009 and June 2013. FBR also asked for details of the assets and liabilities of their spouses, children and other dependents. Furthermore, the FBR notices reveal that any assets that have been transferred and total expenditure also need to be submitted. The deadline for submission was July 15.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Dr Tahirul Qadri and other members and affiliates of Minhajul Quran did not appear before the competent authority on July 15. The FBR decided to take matters in their own hands and impose taxes along with a penalty.
According to Minhajul Quran Director foreign affairs and principal secretary to PAT chief Muhammad Mustafa, the FBR issued five separate notices to each person demanding wealth statements despite the fact that Dr Tahirul Qadri and Minhajul Quran had provided wealth statements up until June 30. He added that these notices are a good example of political victimization. They reveal how the government misuses state institutions like FBR, FIA and the police to serve its own end, he said.
