Ante-dated promotion of a good number of Inland Revenue officers at the Regional Tax Office of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is being delayed despite a verdict from the Federal Service Tribunal (FST) in their favour and also endorsed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Departmental sources said the apex court, while hearing the departmental appeal against the decision of FST, has also reprimanded the departmental counsel for contesting a judgment already protected by a judgment of the Supreme Court.

They said the concerned offices are sitting on the issue by not putting up the matter to the chairman who is likely to be summoned by the august court for non-implementation of its orders. It may be noted that the Lahore High Court on 14th of November has also required the FBR Chairman to attend the court in person regarding petition seeking enforcement of tax laws. According to the department circles, such summons of the highest office of FBR are on the rise which can be attributed to the fact that support team of the chairman is either not functioning appropriately or their briefing to the chairman is not apposite. Be that for any reason, personal attendance of the FBR Chairman before the higher courts may hurt working of the FBR, they lamented.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018