(PPF/IFEX) – Najam Sethi, editor of “The Friday Times”, has accused the government of using the income tax department to intimidate him and his wife Jugno Mohsin for their outspoken views. Sethi was arrested on 8 May 1999 on charges of sedition, but was released unconditionally on 2 June. All the charges against him were […]
(PPF/IFEX) – Najam Sethi, editor of “The Friday Times”, has accused the
government of using the income tax department to intimidate him and his wife
Jugno Mohsin for their outspoken views. Sethi was arrested on 8 May 1999 on
charges of sedition, but was released unconditionally on 2 June. All the
charges against him were dropped.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 7 June, 2 June, 1 June, 31 May, 26 May, 25 May, 18
May, 12 May, 10 May, 6 May, 5 May and 19 April 1999**
According to Sethi, the government, through the income tax department,
issued over two dozen notices against him, his wife, “The Friday Times” and
Vanguard Books, his publishing company. His wife Mohsin’s bank account was
frozen and money was transferred to the tax department, which Sethi said was
illegal.
Mohsin has filed a legal notice against the income tax department, claiming
damages of 10 million Pakistani rupees (approx. US$218,500). The Supreme
Court granted a stay order on Mohsin’s petition.
Sethi stated that the income tax department reopened settled income tax
assessments for the years 1995 and 1996. He said that the department had
“attached” his family’s house. Sethi added that he was consulting his
lawyers and was confident that the High Court would provide justice in this
situation.
