Probe into corruption charges: FBR member doesn’t appear before FIA

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: FBR’s Member Operation, Inland Revenue, Mir Badshah Wazir, who had been summoned by the FIA to probe allegations of corruption, kickbacks, bribery, and illegal approval of tax refunds by Large Taxpayer Office (LTO) Lahore to large taxpayer companies, did not appear before the agency on Friday.

According to FIA sources, the officer sent his response to the agency through his lawyer.

A brawl had occurred on issuing refunds and distribution of bounty among the officers in the FBR office, Lahore, which attracted media headlines.

Interestingly, the government has recently categorised FBR’s Member Operation into category A based on intelligence agencies reports but now on serious allegations, an inquiry from FIA is underway. There are some instances where the FBR officer was bestowed with a prestigious award but was later removed from the post within a few weeks.

In the FBR, there is an element of uncertainty increasing day by day despite the fact that the Board fetched a tax collection of Rs9,311 billion in the last fiscal year despite all odds. It is a fact that the FBR’s tax-to-GDP ratio has been dismally low but keeping in view the constitutional arrangement among the Centre and the provinces, all blame could not be shifted to FBR.

The FBR’s top management seemed to be under immense pressures and lacked confidence to present their argument before the top political leadership of the country.

Now in the notice served to the FBR’s top guns on June 23, the FIA also directed the focal person FBR to make sure the attendance of summoned officials, including FBR Member (Operations) on July 26 (Friday).

The FIA notice says whereas it appears that Mir Badshah Khan Wazir is acquainted with the circumstances of enquiry on the allegations of corruption, kickbacks, bribery, corrupt practices, and illegal approval of tax refunds to large taxpayer companies by the officers/officials of LTO Lahore.

The official is hereby called upon to appear (in person) at FIA Office Anti-Money Laundering Circle, without fail for the purpose of answering certain questions in the matter and explain position in the matter and/or providing documents in possession related to enquiry. The documents included record of Large Tax Payer Companies of Zone of LTO Lahore in which refunds have been issued in the last five years. “You are further required to bring your original CNIC and any/all documentary evidence in support of your claim,” the FIA notice added.

The officer could not be contacted for his point of view on the charges. However, sources in the FBR say the officer denies any wrongdoing.