The Suddle Report containing all such serious allegations is an official document now. If the present government ignores it, the next government can take it up against any party. Malik Riaz is a scoundrel. He should not be let go scott free, if this government fails, a future government should try him, even if it takes 50 years and his bug eaten carcass has to be pulled out from six foot of earth. This leech is the epidemy of all that is wrong with Pakistan. Arslan Iftikhar and his issues aside, Malik is a Clone of Zardari, as a matter of fact, this guttersnipe wants to replace crooked Zardari.
Who won and who lost?…The taxman set free
December 08, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Malik Riaz is happy, Dr Arsalan says that his position stands vindicated and Dr Shoaib Suddle has now the freedom to proceed against the tax evaders after the Supreme Court accepted and made his report public.
Many say what has the Supreme Court done? Some are expressing sympathy and unknowingly feeling sorry for Dr Suddle, who had burnt midnight oil for months to produce his preliminary report as he was in possession of a lot more explosive stuff to do what has been considered impossible in the past, because his commission has been dissolved halfway. In fact the commission was not required and mandated to take any action against tax evaders. It will now be done by the relevant authorities, the most pertinent being the Federal Tax Ombudsman, who is Dr Suddle himself.
In a way the taxman has been set free by the SC to proceed in whatever way he thinks is right and many have been reminded of the famous tax evasion case of Al-Capone, the Godfather, who was not jailed because of his other activities but was nailed for evading taxes. Many feel that Dr Suddle was allowed by the apex court to probe the matter but when he was set to conclusively move towards the completion of his job, he was told to leave the work. The court ordered to make public the preliminary report of the commission, containing serious allegations against the duo.
Dr Suddle wanted to do more but his commission had reached a dead-end after Malik Riaz refused to cooperate with it. Therefore, it was the right thing to wind it up and allow the other authorities to pursue whatever loose ends they wanted to pick up. There is no direction from the apex court in respect to the allegations which surfaced against Malik Riaz and Arsalan in the commission report but by making it public without any objections by any side, it has been endorsed by the SC.
When approached, Malik Riaz sounded jubilant and said, “I am happy with the Supreme Court’s decision.” He said that he had got relief after six months, and added that he has complete faith in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Malik Riaz informed that he is now considering taking Arsalan to a London court. Dr Arsalan Iftikhar, when contacted, told this correspondent that his position has been vindicated. He also resolved to file a defamation suit against Malik Riaz.
It has also been established that the allegations and counter allegations was an affair between the two individuals and there has been no involvement of the Supreme Court or any of its judge including the Chief Justice of Pakistan in what has been traded between Malik Riaz and Arsalan.
On this point, the Supreme Court rightly stated this was an issue between two individuals and that they could take up their matter before any forum and this is the point where all other agencies and authorities, including the Federal Tax Ombudsman, have been authorised to take up the matter. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) might not do it but the Tax Ombudsman would certainly do it.
It is left for the competent forums to investigate and decide as the court order did not pass any direction with regard to the commission’s following allegations of serious nature:
1- Tax evasion of Rs51.3 million by Dr Arsalan Iftikhar.
2- Tax evasion of Rs119.4 billion by Malik Riaz Hussain.
3- Alleged land grabbing of over 1,100 kanals of forest land in Rawalpindi and Murree by Bahria.
4- The discovery of secret bank accounts of Malik Riaz.
5- Controversial receipt of advance money from customers of plots in violation of rules.
6- CDA’s claim in a court of law saying that Bahria Town has illegally occupied over 1,200 kanals of CDA land for construction of road to its newly launched project “Bahria Enclave”.
7- Non filing of tax returns by Ahmed Khalil.
8- Detection of undeclared bank accounts in the name of Ahmed Khalil showing deposits of Rs306m. Without any declared income, Ahmed Khalil has been found owner of assets worth Rs677m. Income tax implications on these assets come to Rs169m.
9- Non-cooperation of relevant departments under the Ministry of Interior with the commission. They virtually defied every order issued by the commission. Even routine attachment orders of two FIA officials whose services were requisitioned by the commission in early September were unduly referred to the Law Division for “opinion”.
10- Minister of Interior rather than acting in support of the commission was blatantly and persistently continuing to act in aid of one party.
