Islamabad, Nov 25: FTO Directs FBR to Investigate Officials Over False Statements in Bank Attachment Case. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) personnel who made false or misleading claims when submitting a report to carry out the FTO’s ruling on using coercive measures (bank account attachments) while the appeal was pending are the subject of an investigation ordered by the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO).
The President has already approved the FTO order, which directs FBR to discipline the officers who used coercive tactics (bank attachments) while the appeal was pending. Dr. Iqbal Aujla, the irate taxpayer, filed a complaint through Waheed Shahbaz Butt, an advocate, alleging that FBR employees had committed maladministration by submitting a fraudulent report under the guise of implementing an FTO order against bank attachments without following the proper legal procedures.
Although FBR contested this decision before the President, the President upheld FTO’s directive with the stipulation that officers must be given a hearing before any action is taken against them. When contacted, Waheed Shahbaz Butt stated that although the taxpayer’s bank account was recovered, the actions of FBR officers amounted to maladministration, and administrative excess in the performance of duties was also an act of maladministration.
The FTO forum is the only remedy available to Pakistani taxpayers for these issues, and a society that tolerates intentional falsehood is bound to collapse. The Constitution’s directives must be followed by all public servants, including FBR officers. According to Waheed Butt, public servants must follow the law.
The FTO suggested that FBR order the concerned CCIR to chastise the officer who used coercion in this matter while the appeal was pending, thus violating FBR’s circulars. As directed by the FTO, the Member-IR (Operations) shall investigate such incidents nationwide to see whether the instructions are being followed. If necessary, corrective action should be taken, and the tax functionaries who violate the instructions should be warned.
