Offshore property: SC orders Aleema Khan to deposit Rs29.4mn

ISLAMABAD: While hearing a suo motu case pertaining to the offshore property owned by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed her to pay an amount of Rs29.4 million in tax and fine, ARY News reported.

Headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, a bench of the apex court was hearing the case.

Salman Akram Raja, counsel for Aleema Khan, contended that his client purchased the property in Dubai in 2008 using the money remitted to the UAE through a banking channel.

Ms Khan informed the judges that she had 50 per cent of the amount incurred on the purchase of the property while she arranged the remaining 50 per cent by getting a loan from a bank.

She said the property she purchased in 2008 was sold last year, adding that the property had cost her around 30 million rupees.

During the previous hearing, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had submitted a report on the offshore property of Aleema Khan in the apex court in a sealed envelope.

FBR Inland Revenue Commissioner Chaudhry Ishtiaq Khan informed that she had never availed herself of any benefit from the amnesty scheme introduced by the previous PML-N government.

Earlier, the SC had sought tax record of Aleema Khan when it was informed by a Federal Board of Revenue member that Ms Khan availed the tax amnesty scheme.

The FBR official said amnesty scheme record could be presented on the court orders. The CJP, in his remarks, ordered that the tax details be given to the court, adding “We will look into it.”

Earlier responding to FIA notice, Ms Aleema reportedly told the inquiry officer that she acquired property abroad but now she has sold this asset.