ISLAMABAD: Questioning the discrepancy in the income declared in nomination papers and the tax returns, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary-General Jahangir Tareen to produce until October 10 the details of his assets and income along with the record of 18,564 acres agricultural land he acquired on lease. A three-member Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Faisal Arab was hearing a petition filed by PML-N leader Hanif Abbassi, seeking disqualification of PTI chairman Imran Khan and Secretary-General Jahangir Tareen for non-disclosure of their assets, ownership of offshore companies and PTI being a foreign-aided party. At the onset of hearing, the chief justice observed that the income declared by Tareen in his nomination papers submitted in the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was less than that declared in his tax returns, which created doubts on his honesty. He noted that the court wanted to know why Tareen declared less income in the declaration he submitted with the ECP as compared to the income he showed in his tax returns. He said it seemed as if the exercise was done just to whiten the black money. Tareen’s counsel Sikandar Mohmand, however, submitted that his client had declared before the income tax authorities the income he received from land which he acquired on lease. He said that the tax matters of his client were pending before the forum concerned, adding that the authorities had declared his assets as legitimate after a thorough probe. “We have no concern with the orders of tax officials or scrutiny of tax returns, as we just have to see the matter in the context of honesty,” the chief justice observed. Mohmand, however, stated that if the tax authorities gave verdict against his client then people would be entitled to file pleas against him. Justice Bandial then remarked that the court may initiate proceedings under Article 184 (3) of the constitution for giving misstatements. Mohmand contended that the case of his client was quite different from that of Panama Papers. He said the case of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif pertained to concealing of facts as he had been holding the public office for last 36 year, whereas his client became a public office holder for just last three years. To a court query that if any misstatement is found in the nomination papers of Tareen then what should be done, the counsel stated that the court could order an inquiry into it. “In Panama Papers case too, the court had ordered investigation and formed the joint investigation team (JIT),” the chief justice recalled. The counsel stated that his client had been paying taxes regularly and he was one of the biggest taxpayers of Pakistan, adding that he even had paid provincial tax on his agriculture income. Justice Bandial then observed that those paying taxes should be encouraged by providing relief and ignoring their minor mistakes, however the allegation against Tareen was of whitening the black money. To a repeated court query that there were discrepancies in the income records of Tareen submitted with the ECP and the income tax authorities, the counsel contended that there was no discrepancy as the tax returns were not filed completely. Questioning the agricultural income showed by Tareen before the ECP and the Federal Board of Revenue, which differed, Justice Bandial noted that it had been a practice that people show agricultural income just to whiten the black money. “People often show agri income for the exclusive purpose of whitening the black money, as after paying just agri tax, such income stands exempted from other taxes,” the chief justice noted. He said such a huge agriculture income shown by Tareen casts doubts, thus warrants the answers. He said the official record will reveal under which conditions the land was purchased or acquired on lease by Tareen. He said Tareen has not provided details of the payments of the leased lands yet. Later, the court adjourned further hearing till October 10. Published in Daily Times, October 6th 2017.