The recent report has revealed that 67% of parliamentarians and 62% of ministers in the Federal Cabinet did not file their income tax returns in 2011. It is a shame for all these parliamentarians and ministers that they talk so much in public gatherings, current affairs shows, and political talk shows that they will change the life of common/poor people.
But after this report it is clear that these politicians are not to be trusted, when they don’t file their tax return then how can they be sincere in making policy to generate more taxes. Because of these politicians sales tax percentage is so high on basic commodities that have caused inflation.
The highest paid tax MNA is former PML-F member Jehangir Khan Tareen. He was elected MNA from NA-195. He has now joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He has paid Rs. 17,053,172 tax in 2011. There are also many MNA’s and Senators who still do not have their National Tax Numbers (NTNs).
The big question is if these politicians can not lead by examaple in paying taxes than how can they demand people to pay taxes. What is Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) doing? Does it have any authority to catch these politicians. FBR has also failed in collecting taxes from big businessmen in Pakistan. recent report that real estate tycoon Malik Riaz has done massive tax evasion of Rs 119.4 billion shows the incompetency of FBR.