Minister calls for immediate accountability of tax-evading MPs

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Finance, Revenue and Power Ali Pervaiz Malik has called for immediate accountability of tax-evading parliamentarians.

In an interview with Hum Investigation Team, Malik said that tax authorities should first catch tax evasion by parliamentarians and the wealthy class. Minister Malik stated that everyone should be accountable for their income and assets and should be able to defend their possessions.

He said: “I appeal to the FBR to begin the accountability process with parliamentarians and then extend it to the general public. No one should be spared, and everyone must pay their taxes.”

He added, “If parliamentarians are tax filers, their salaries are subject to tax deductions. Tax evasion is completely wrong and illegal.”

He also expressed hope that the government would be in a position to provide some relief to the salaried class in the coming days.

“Parliamentarians should come forward and submit their declarations; only then should they expect anything from others. This was the purpose when Shehbaz Sharif issued the tax directory on the instructions of Nawaz Sharif, and this is the example he aimed to set. Inshallah, we will work on this and show results,” he said.