Disproportionate asset case ~ Misbah Ul Haq's account frozen

There is one widely circulated jocular story in Internet.  

At New Wanderers way back on 24^th  Sept 2007, that one delivery remains frozen in the memories of all cricket lovers – Misbah bends to play that fatal scoop; ball going high on the air, landing in the hands of Sreesanth ~ the bowler was Joginder Sharma.  

Pakistan started the final over needing a manageable 13, though with their last pair at the crease. Dhoni surprised everybody by asking Joginder to bowl that last over.   That became 12 from six after Joginder Sharma bowled the widest of wides, then 12 from five after Misbah played and missed. He played and hit next time, launching Sharma's nervy full toss down the ground. 

Six from four; one stroke would do it…… that scoop of Misbah zeroed on Sreesanth (the joke that went around was – Misbah then realised that Malayalis are everywhere in the World)…

Disproportionate Assets is a term used in India to describe where an individual's net assets significantly exceed the assets that one could possess after accounting for the assets that one previously held and all legal sources of income.  In our neighbouring country,   The Express Tribune  states that one can find all kinds of genuine military goods —from new uniforms to night vision goggles — at flea markets in Karachi.

The Niazi  is a branch of Lohani Pashtun tribe originating in Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.  In the Pashtun tribal hierarchy Niazi is one of the most respected tribe. Imrankhan was a Niazi and so is Misbah-ul-Haq, captain of Pak team.  A solid middle-order batsmen best known for his composure with the bat, sometimes he is accused of trying to do too much in the end, waiting far too long for the end.  

Tax evasion is rampant in Pakistan — according to FBR figures, less than 0.5 per cent of Pakistanis pay income tax, or just 750,000 individuals out of a population of some 180 million. According to newspaper reports, there is rampant corruption and stealing as well.  Pakistani investigators have claimed that over 50,000 containers meant for US and NATO forces in Afghanistan have been pilfered within Pakistan with the alleged collusion of authorities. The Supreme Court of Pakistan  is currently hearing a case about the pilferring of container trucks and investigators probing the scam have claimed that over 50,000 containers were stolen with the collusion of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and National Logistics Cell (NLC),’The News’ daily said quoting unnamed sources. The sources claimed tax evasion on the goods in the pilfered containers would amount to “trillion of rupees.”

What connects all the above is the news that cricketer Misbah Ul Haq’s bank accounts are reportedly  frozen after alleged Rs 3.9 million tax evasion.   Indian Express and other news agencies report that Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq’s woes multiplied today when the Federal Bureau of Revenue (FBR) froze his bank accounts for tax evasion and non-payment of dues tuning upto 3.9 million rupees. The FBR also froze the bank account of another Pakistan Test player Azhar Ali for same reason. A source close to Misbah said that the action taken by the FBR would be challenged as there was a dispute over amount of dues that the cricketer owed to the tax authorities.

The authorities are quoted as stating that while Misbah owed the FBR nearly 3.9 million rupees ($3900) while Azhar Ali also had to pay dues of 1.5 million. It is stated that there is an ongoing dispute between the players and the FBR over the payment of dues- and the present action is taken as taxable incomes were not declared properly in their returns.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

15^th Oct 2014.