The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a case against former chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Shabbar Zaidi, on charges of alleged misuse of authority during his tenure, officials confirmed on Thursday.
According to details, the case was lodged by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle, accusing Zaidi of exceeding his official mandate while heading the tax authority. The FIR states that Zaidi, during his tenure as FBR chairman, allegedly authorized the release of Rs. 16 billion in tax refunds to various banks and companies without proper approval.
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The investigation report further claims that the beneficiary companies were among Zaidi’s private clients prior to his appointment, raising conflict-of-interest concerns. Zaidi served as chairman FBR from May 10, 2019, to January 6, 2020.
The FIR alleges that the former chairman, in collaboration with other government officials, bypassed standard procedures and unlawfully facilitated selected firms by issuing refunds in violation of established rules.
The FIA has constituted an inquiry team to investigate the matter. The team will be headed by Assistant Director Nand Lal, who has been tasked with examining the financial trail and the alleged decision-making irregularities.
No official statement from Zaidi or his legal representatives was available at the time of reporting.
