As many as 10,600 candidates out of the total 24,266, who have filed nomination papers for contesting the May 11 general elections, have not National Tax Number (NTN), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has communicated to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after scrutinising the nomination papers.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Sunday that the FBR's Central Verification Cell had successfully completed the verification of 24,266 nomination papers of which 10,600 candidates were without NTN.
The FBR's Cell and field formations have completed the exercise in a co-ordinated effort. The team work of the Regional Tax Offices and FBR's Central Verification Cell is evident from the speedy completion of the whole exercise. The Regional Tax Offices have not intervened in the work of the agency but facilitated the Central Verification Cell in providing information whenever required. The FBR took the lead in the verification exercise as compared to other departments like NAB and Nadra etc.
The FBR has informed the ECP that a total of 10,600 cases have no NTN and have not filed any income tax returns. The declarations have been duly verified and communicated to the ECP for onward submission to the Returning Officers.