ISLAMABAD: The anti-benami initiative of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has so far attached 146 benami properties worth Rs31 billion across Pakistan.
Sources said that Anti-Benami Initiative Director General Dr Bashir Ullah had shared the benami properties details with the FBR’s acting chairperson last week.
Benami Zone-III Karachi attached more than 100 properties worth Rs14 billion; Islamabad Zone 31 benami properties valued Rs16 billion, while Lahore Zone attached 14 benami properties worth Rs626 million.
Benami Zone-III Karachi also attached agriculture land registered in different benami names.
Sources said that two to 32 acres of land in Deh Therhi was registered in the name of Shaheen Freight Services, while three to 14 acres of land in Deh Wisro Wahan were registered in the name of Shaheen Foods.
Similarly, up to 39 acres of land in Deh Kouro Phulapoto were registered in the name of Ali Murad. Benami Zone-III Karachi also attached benami land registered in the name of Ali Akbar, Landon Town Housing scheme and Pipri.
In addition to this, sources said, benami zones had finalised investigations into 63 cases, out of which 34 references had also been filed against the accused.
Moreover, sources said that benami zones had identified more than 750 benamidars such as Karachi Zone discovered 203, Lahore 122 and Islamabad 427.
Besides, the zones had also issued notices to 257 beneficial owners, who could be politicians or businessmen, sources added.
Sources said that the Karachi Zone had identified 113 beneficial owners, including the family members of Omni group, Lahore 77 and Islamabad apprehended some 67 real owners of above stated properties.
Sources said that the Anti-Benami Initiative DG informed the bureau’s chairperson that around 596 cases were under investigation, while zones had also issued summons to 1,175 individuals.
Overall, the amount involved in the benami properties had reached up to Rs62 billion so far.
Sources said that the benami zones had received most of the information from the deputy commissioners of four provinces before starting investigation to further probe the information.
