Taxing what is not “income”
Huzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqIt is a cardinal principle that what is not “income” cannot be taxed under the income tax law (presently in operation is Income Tax Ordinance, 200I]. In Pakistan, a misconception prevails that National Assembly can…
Will USA regain its lost legacy?
July 4 marks the Independence Day of United States of AmericaDr. Ikramul HaqJuly 4, 1776 has special significance in American history. The great liberation movement against colonial rule was pioneered in this land and founding-fathers of this historic struggle showed…
FATF & collective failure
Dr Ikramul HaqIt is shocking that only two political parties filed income tax returns for tax year 2020 out of 27 registered with FBR and 127 with Election Commission of Pakistan despite section 114(1)(ac) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001…
Budgets & elitist structures
Huzaima Bukhari Dr. Ikramul HaqAll annual budgets of federal and provincial governments—civil or military—for the last four decades, especially tax proposals through Finance Bills, strengthen elitist structures. The year 2021 is no different when millions are in dire need of…
Pakistan: Dissecting FATF Failure
Huzaima Bukhari, Dr. Ikramul Haq & Abdul Rauf ShakooriThe incompetence and lack of understanding of the incumbent government has once again proven fatal as all their efforts to shift Pakistan from the list of jurisdictions with increased monitoring (grey list)…
Our society’s dilemma
Huzaima Bukhari“Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe”—Frederick…
Art: coarseness or culture?
Huzaima Bukhari“The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection”—MichelangeloAlthough the biological needs of humans reduce them to the level of animals, there are some exceptional qualities which elevate them to the position of a remarkable…
June 26 marks the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. The theme for 2021 is “Share facts on drugs, save lives”. The worldwide observance was decided by the United Nations General Assembly in 1987 to raise the level of awareness in the international community about the dangers of drug abuse, to prevent its spread and to encourage all efforts to combat the menace at international level.
Taliban, Americans, terrorism & drug-tradeHuzaima Bukhari & Dr. Ikramul HaqTerrorism, drugs-for-arms and money laundering, intrinsically linked, still pose considerable threats to global peace and security besides destabilizing political and financial stability of many nation states. These menaces started in the…
Pakistan: Crucial FATF hearing
Huzaima Bukhari, Dr. Ikramul Haq & Abdul Rauf ShakooriThe last meeting of the FATF in February 2021 concluded on a mix note for Pakistan. FATF acknowledged significant progress made by Pakistan on the entire action plan where Pakistan successfully made…