ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar shared that he received interim report related to leak of Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s income tax records, adding that they have traced some people involved in act. In an interview during  local TV channel programme, Dar repeated that leaking Army Chief’s income tax returns was “illegal”.

A day earlier, Ishaq Dar took notice of “illegal and unwarranted” leakage of tax information of Gen Bajwa’s family members.

“This is clearly a violation of complete confidentiality of tax information that law provides,” a statement from Finance Division had read.

In view of this serious lapse on part of to-date unknown functionaries, Dar had directed Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Revenue Tariq Mehmood Pasha to personally lead probe, affix responsibility and submit a report within 24 hours.  “I have seen interim report. I hope to receive final report today,” Dar told host during today’s show. He added that government has found few people behind leak and issue will reach its logical conclusion.

Finance czar shared that one person involved in leak is from Lahore and another from Rawalpindi.  However, he added that there is a possibility that some of individuals involved may have authorisation to look at income tax records as there a “circle” in Rawalpindi where assessments take place. “These people are authorised to access [data] for their assessment,” said Dar. He was of view that if “Illegal work” is allowed or a blind eye is turned towards it then a person will not be fulfilling their duty.

Reacting to Imran Khan’s claim that Pakistan’s default risk soared from 5 percent to 80 percent during tenure of incumbent coalition government, he said that PTI leaders should think that whether they were working in or against interests of country.

He berated former PTI government for borrowing historic loans and ruining economy ahead of COVID-19 outbreak. He reiterated that Pakistan will not default and would repay loans on time.  “They must stop dirty politics,” he added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 23 2022

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