LAHORE: The Excise and Taxation Department of Punjab has sent a notice to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s residence in Lahore to his mother for assessment of luxury house tax.
The notice issued on Thursday said that the former prime minister has to pay arrears of Rs 36 lakh under luxury tax. It was issued in the name of Khan’s late mother Shaukat Khanum at her Zaman Park residence.
According to sources, the Excise Department sent a two-member team comprising ETO Adeel Amjad and Inspector Amina Rashid to Zaman Park Lahore to issue notices.
امپورٹڈ حکومت اور ان کے ہینڈلرز روز نئی پستی کو چھو رہے ہیں
— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) April 13, 2023
شوکت خانم صاحبہ کی وفات کے 28 سال ہو گئے ہیں اور آج ان کے نام کا ایکسائز کا نوٹس جاری کر دیا گیا pic.twitter.com/FPmMXQTcIR
Late Ms. Khanum, who was a homemaker, died of cancer some 38 years ago in 1985. The property remains in his name. A two-member Excise and Taxation team went to Zaman Park to serve the notice.
PTI Chairman owes Rs 36 lakh in tax. It was also said that if the notice is not complied with, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be approached.
However, speaking to The News, an excise officer, Adeel Amjad, said that in case of failure to comply with the notice, an ex parte review would be conducted.
He further said that if Imran Khan does not cooperate, the excise department will not approach the Election Commission as it does not come under its purview.
The official ruled out the element of political vendetta, adding that the excise department has decided to check all luxury houses of two or more kanals.
Excise officials, when asked why they delayed the notice when the law came into effect through the Finance Act, 2014, chose not to comment. He also did not respond when contacted.
