Aleema Khanum, sister of Prime Minister Imran Khan, has denied any link between her income/assets and any of the charities with which she or any of her siblings is associated. "The sources of our client's income and assets have nothing whatsoever to do with any of the charities with which our client is associated or with any or her siblings. Any suggestion to the contrary is only baseless speculation. Our client reserves all her rights," said the statement of facts of Aleema Khanum, filed through Advocate Salman Akram Raja.
In January this year, while talking to reporters in Supreme Court, the Premier's sister had rejected the allegations that she acquired foreign assets through Shaukat Khanum's charity fund and other illegal means. "I dedicated my life to charity work and it has no bearing on my foreign holdings whatsoever. I acquired this property through my income and husband's assets," she had told the reporter outside the Supreme Court.
Salman Akram Raja said record of Aleema Khanum w/o Sohail Khan pertaining to the purchase of certain properties outside Pakistan is available with his law firm. "Based on this record and confirmation made by a senior chartered accountant, it is stated that the financing of the said properties took place through sale of property owned in Pakistan, including property owned/inherited by our client's husband, and remission of funds from Pakistan through banking channels."
The company in which Khanum holds 50% interest was engaged in the business of export facilitation of textile products from Pakistan. Parts of the foreign earnings of this company were allowed by the applicable law to be retained overseas.
The sources for financing also included the transfer of funds through banking channels out of Khanum's business income and bank loans against mortgages availed overseas.
The statement said the total equity (non-loan) investment made by the client or her husband in the purchase of properties outside Pakistan was not more than Rs 72.5 million spread over several years. The sources identified covered this investment.
"It may also be noted that the rate of tax applicable, under the laws of Pakistan, to the exports based receipts of the company in which our client holds a 50% interest was between 0.5% and 1.00% at all relevant times. Our client has partially paid, and is in the process of paying fully, the tax assessed and demanded with respect to her assets," said the statement.
The Supreme Court on December 13, 2018 directed Aleema Khanum to deposit Rs 29.5 million as tax and fine on properties worth more than $300 million that she had purchased in 2008, but sold in 2017. According to the FBR, 50% money for purchasing the properties was mortgaged money and 50% was her own money.
In an affidavit submitted to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Khanum had already revealed that she owned a property - namely Lofts East 1406 - in Dubai and that it was paid from the funds generated from her business dealing overseas.
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