PM questions key appointments in FBR

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has sent an official communication to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) top brass raising questions over pending inquiries and key appointments.

The letter titled “Issues of good governance in the Federal Board of Revenue” written by Secretary to PM Fawad Hasan Fawad stated that it has been brought to the information of the prime minister that several officers of the FBR, including the five listed below, were proceeded against under the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules 1973 on serious charges of corruption and misconduct, but were either reinstated after dismissal from service or were given only minor penalties despite the fact that charges against them had been proved beyond reasonable doubt in enquiries, and that to make it worse, these officers have now been assigned lucrative field positions. These officers included Abdul Hamid Anjum, BS-19; Sajid Hussain Arain, BS-18; Abdul Hamid Abro, BS-18; Jawahar Ali Shah, BS-18 and Anser Majeed, Inland Revenue Audit Officer.

It has also been brought to the knowledge of the prime minister that no action is being taken against a number of officers, including the following three notable examples, in worse case formal inquiries, on equally serious charges, have been completed since long: (1) Basharat Ahmed Qureshi, BS-20; (2) Sharif Awan, BS-20 and (3) Shahar Bano Walajahi, BS-20.

The prime minister has been further informed that certain officers of the FBR with embarrassing and compromised reputations for integrity and general conduct are leading some of the most important establishments of the FBR. The prime minister has, therefore, desired that a comprehensive report be submitted within a fortnight by the chairman, covering inter alia the following:

Details of all cases of officials/officers of BS-16 and above belonging to the Pakistan Customs Service, Inland Revenue Service and other cadres of the FBR against whom formal disciplinary proceedings were initiated by the FBR from June 2013 onwards on the charges of corruption, issuance of bogus refunds, criminal connivance with tax evaders, misuse of authority and negligence causing revenue loss; findings of the inquiry and the final outcome in each case; and the current postings of these officers; and past performance and general reputation for integrity of all functional members of the FBR, officers heading field formations and officers who are heading strategic units of the FBR such as: Directorate General of Post-Clearance Audit, Customs; Directorate General of Transit Trade; Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation, Customs; Directorate General Intelligence and Investigation, Inland Revenue; and Directorate General of Customs Evaluation.

The FBR chairman shall take further action accordingly and submit a report for perusal of the prime minister by November 28, the letter concluded.

This is yet to emerge who was the important person behind controversial appointments in the FBR.