President Asif Ali Zardari did not file taxreturns for 2011 and he was in "good company as 34 out of 55 cabinetministers paid nothing either", said a Pakistani daily.
An editorial in the News International described as a "bold firststep" a statement from a top Federal Board of Revenue official that saidsome 260 parliamentarians, 200 MNAs (members of National Assembly) and 60senators will be sent tax notices.
"His statement comes as the enterprising initiative taken by youngjournalists in Islamabad through the Centre for Investigating Reporting (CIRP),released its first report revealing that some 300 MPs did not file any taxreturn and named almost all the big politicians including the president,ex-prime minister and many of his cabinet members," it said.
"More than 60 percent of the cabinet and two-thirds of the federallawmakers paid not a rupee in taxes in the last year. The president did notfile tax returns for 2011. He was in good company as 34 out of 55 cabinetministers paid nothing either, including that pillar of the state RehmanMalik," the daily added.
The editorial pointed out that those who did make the effort and paid some taxcoughed up "almost derisory amounts".
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf managed Rs.142,536, while Foreign MinisterHina Rabbani Khar paid Rs.69,619 - "somewhat less than what it would costto purchase one of her favoured brands of designer handbags".
"This is shameful in a country where the head of the thief catchers saysthat Rs.7 billion are gobbled up in corruption every single day, a statementthat sent the cabinet in a fury Wednesday," the daily said.
It observed that persuading the public to pay taxes might be a little easier ifthose at the top of the pile paid theirs.
"Can we hope now that the society and its watchdogs, emboldened by anindependent judiciary and a vibrant media, are waking up to play their role toset things right?, the editorial asked.