Senate committee rejects removal of restriction on filers

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Thursday rejected the proposal of removing the condition of filers for purchases of properties/new cars etc.

During an in-camera meeting of the committee, the Senate panel rejected the budget proposal related to the condition of filers, as the State Minister for Revenue Hamad Azhar and FBR Chairman failed to give an amended proposal in earlier meetings. The majority of voters rejected the proposal in the committee.

On Wednesday, defending the move, however, FBR officials had claimed that the income tax related matter was of provinces. By restricting the non-filers the government was violating the income tax ordinance.

State Minister Hamad Azhar said that the way the opposition defended peoples’ right in income slab case, they should also stand for the right of non-filers to own property. Restricting the non-filers to own property was also a violation of the constitution, he added.