Senator Ghulam Ali involved in tax evasion worth Rs 1.60 billion: UBG

Lahore: The United Business Group (UBG) of FPCCI on Thursday said leader of the Businessmen Panel (BMP) and former Senator Ghulam Ali is involved in tax evasion worth Rs1.60 billion.

The failed trade leader rejected twice by the business community in the FPCCI elections climbed ladder of success through massive corruption and now he is eying FPCCI after being disappointed in political circles, it said.

In a joint statement issued here today, President FPCCI Abdul Rauf Alam, Vice Presidents Khalid Tawab, Hanif Gohar, Arshad Farooq, Rahman Aziz, UBG Secretary General Zubair Tufail, Spokesman Gulzar Feroz and Shakil Dhingra said that Ghulam Ali saved import duty worth Rs 1.60 billion by declaring that machinery imported would be used to set up a factory in tax-free area of Malakand.

He should have courage to return the money to the government or the authorities should reopen the case as he was spared at that time due to political interference, they demanded.

The business leaders said that Ghulam Ali is a failed politician and rejected business leader who is very displeased due to repeated defeats in trade politics.

He has realised defeat in the third election of FPCCI which has frustrated him, he said, adding that he has a long history of corruption and there in nothing on his credit which can be used to attract voters.

Therefore he has started maligning CEO TDAP SM Muneer for the sake of cheap popularity. SM Muneer is leading exporter of leather and textiles while he is Vice Chairman of MCB Bank.

Keeping in view the services of undisputed leader of the business community, the government has appointed him as CEO of TDAP from where is not getting any salary or benefit but he is targeted to meet unholy designs which would be foiled.

They said that SM Muneer is serving selflessly but some rejected elements who are eying FPCCI are maligning him to blue the vision of business community but what they would get out of it would be frustration only.