KARACHI: The Federal Cabinet has approved Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recommendation for the appointment of Syed Shabbar Zaidi as Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).[the_ad id=”31605″]Zaidi’s becoming FBR Chief is highly controversial and unrealistic, which is why senior officers are reportedly discussing legal course of action.
Officers are confident to obtain stay from the court of law, if any of the Inland Revenue or Customs challenge the appointment given so many violations of rules and regulations.
It may be mentioned here that Syed Shabbar Zaidi’s name is on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Appointment of Shabbar Zaidi as Chairman FBR has lead to unrest and strong disappointment in FBR ranks.
The appointment of the partner of a chartered accountant firm is a conflict of interest.
Previously, Islamabad High Court declared Arshad Ali Hakeem’s appointment as Chairman FBR as illegal and unconstitutional. Being a senior partner of an accountancy firm A.F Ferguson & Co, Shabbar Zaidi’s appointment raises serious doubts about his impartiality and sincerity with Premier Revenue Agency as he is pleading the cases of companies involving hundreds of billion of rupees as tax revenues.
Moreover his appointment has been made ignoring more than 10 senior most Inland Revenue Service and Pakistan Customs Service Officers serving in BS-22, which is viewed as mistrust and no-confidence in more than 2000 officers working in both cadres of FBR.
The government is repeatedly demoralizing the two cadres in FBR by appointing chairman FBR either from PAS and now a private individual from a chartered accountant firm. If at all his expertise is inevitable to be utilised , the govt may appoint him as advisor being the prerogative of the govt to appoint any person against a position meant for political appointees.
The FBR officers fear the prevailing unrest may further aggravate the revenue shortfall being faced by FBR due to the wrong policy measures taken without working out the revenue implications.
There is every likehood that this decision may be challenged in court of law.