§ 37. Sir C. Mott-Radclyffeasked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what guarantees were given by Her Majesty's Government to former officers of the Indian Army who volunteered to serve in Pakistan after the transfer of power, in respect of arrears of pay and repayment of tax where revised income tax assessments had recently been made; and whether he is aware of the inconvenience caused to a number of these former Indian Army officers who are still unable to reach a satisfactory settlement with the Pakistani Government.
§ Mr. AlportI presume that my hon. Friend refers to those officers who. while 1135 servng in Pakistan, drew concurrently duty pay and leave pending retirement pay, the latter being subsequently reassessed for the purpose of Pakistan income tax. The incidence of Pakistan income tax is, naturally, a matter for the Government of Pakistan and no guarantees by Her Majesty's Government were given with regard to it or in respect of any form of pay.
With regard to the second part of the Question, I am informed that special efforts are being made to settle any outstanding cases of reassessment and to arrange far the repayment of any refunds which might as a result become due.
§ Sir C. Mott-RadclyffeIs my hon. Friend aware that these officers received a specific guarantee from the then British Government that all outstanding emoluments would be paid? Is he further aware that the delays in settling these cases as between the officers concerned and the Pakistani Government have been running in some cases for nearly ten years? These delays inevitably cause a great deal of ill feeling on the part of the officers.
§ Mr. AlportI sympathies fully with the difficulties with which the officers have been faced, but the delay is not a matter for which Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom are responsible. I will undertake to my hon. Friend that any assistance that we can give in speeding up the eventual payments of these arrears will be given through our High Commissioner in Karachi.