Body to identify FBR officials responsible for Justice Isa case

The federal government has notified a strong ministerial committee to repair accountability on these tax officers, who misused their place to border an asset declaration case towards Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

The event got here amid the disclosure that three of the 4 officers have lately been posted at key positions.

Apparently, the Prime Minister’s Workplace was saved in the dead of night concerning the recent appointment and posting of the three Federal Board of Income (FBR) officers, who had performed a task within the Justice Isa case.

The legislation and justice ministry notified the 10-member committee on Tuesday in gentle of a call by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal cupboard in July.

The committee, having illustration of all of the allies of the federal government, has been given the only accountability to carry accountable these folks, who had leaked confidential tax data to the final authorities.

Learn extra: In a primary, Justice Isa to take a seat with CJP in bench

“The Regulation and Justice Division Secretary is happy to represent the committee to repair accountability on the heads and officers of ARU (Asset Restoration Unit) and FBR, who exceeded/misused the authority in Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa case,” learn the notification.

Beneath Part 2016 of the Revenue Tax Ordinance, the FBR and its involved officers are accountable to guard the confidentiality of the data offered by a taxpayer in discharging the lawful obligation.

Nevertheless, it’s alleged that the then worldwide taxes chief, Mohammad Ashfaq Ahmad, who later grew to become the FBR chairman, had offered some data to the earlier authorities.

The knowledge had been offered by first securing it from the then commissioner of Computerized Trade of Data (AEOI) Islamabad, Zulifqar Ahmad.

It’s alleged that FBR’s Sajida Kausar additionally performed an energetic function in it.

“Part 216 of the Revenue Tax Ordinance, 2001, instructions confidentiality of the data of a tax filer and breach due to this fact exposes the delinquent to penal penalties beneath sections 198 and 199 of the Ordinance,” wrote Justice Yahya Afridi in his separate word on the Supreme Court docket’s detailed judgment within the case.

He had said that such penalties have been attracted within the current case to these giving the illegal instructions – specifically then ARU chairman Mirza Shahzad Akbar with the concurrence of  then legislation minister Dr Farogh Naseem.

The tax officers executing these instructions have been in breach of Part 216 of the Ordinance, the choose had added.

Regulation Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar is the convener of the ministerial committee. The opposite members are the finance; poverty alleviation and social security; communications; IT and telecom; federal training {and professional} coaching; defence manufacturing; science and expertise; and narcotics management ministers in addition to the adviser to the prime minister on Kashmir affairs.

The notification learn that the committee would submit its suggestions in two weeks to the cupboard — a deadline that can lapse on September 28.

After the ouster of former premier Imran Khan, the FBR had sidelined 4 of its officers, who had performed a task within the Justice Isa case.

PM Shehbaz had eliminated Ashfaq Ahmad because the FBR chairman within the final week of April and since then he had not been given a posting.

The three different officers, Zulifqar Ahmad, Sajida Kausar and Khurshid Alam, have been additionally faraway from their positions the identical week and positioned within the admin pool of the FBR.

Nevertheless, a month in the past, the federal authorities quietly appointed Zulifqar because the Staff Welfare Fund secretary beneath the abroad Pakistanis and human useful resource improvement ministry, in accordance with a notification seen by The Specific Tribune.

Zulifqar has been appointed on deputation for a interval of three years at a prized posting.

The FBR implicitly endorsed the posting by relieving its officer regardless of him having been sidelined in a really critical nature case.

Not solely that, two weeks after the deputation of Zulifqar, the FBR Chairman Secretariat authorised the posting of Sajida Kausar because the commissioner of Data and Communication Expertise Workplace (ICTO) Zone, Islamabad and Khurshid Alam because the Revenue Tax Funds (ITB) second secretary on the FBR headquarters, in accordance with two separate notifications issued within the first week of this month.

The Specific Tribune had despatched three inquiries to FBR spokesperson Afaque Qureshi, requesting him to remark concerning the causes behind first the officers’ elimination in April after which their postings. He was additionally requested whether or not or not the PM’s Workplace was taken into confidence on the choice. Nevertheless, the FBR determined to not reply.

When contacted, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail stated that didn’t intervene within the switch and posting issues of the FBR. The PM’s Workplace was additionally unaware about these postings.

The federal authorities and FBR went forward with the posting plan of those officers regardless of within the final week of July, the federal cupboard had determined to withdraw the healing overview petitions filed towards Justice Isa of the Supreme Court docket, observing that the motion was taken by the earlier authorities by “unfair use of authority”.

On April 26, 2021, the apex courtroom’s majority judges had quashed the FBR’s proceedings towards Justice Isa and its report on the matter.

The bulk judgment, issued on January 29, had accepted the overview petitions of Justice Isa and his spouse with a majority determination of 6:4 towards the June 19, 2020 order.