SC expresses annoyance over FBR in illegal refund case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed annoyance over the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) during the hearing of an illegal tax refunds case and ordered an inquiry against an FBR officer in the case. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Gulzar Ahmed heard the case. During the proceedings, FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi submitted report regarding refunds. The counsel for the FBR said action had been taken against Ashfaq Dino who got illegal refund.

Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan said the additional commissioner was not mentioned in the report. He asked who was authorised officer according to rules. The counsel replied the additional commissioner approves amount of more than one million rupees. He said the authorised officer was the deputy commissioner. He said the additional commissioner did not approve the refund.

Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan asked if the deputy commissioner was authorised, where did the additional commissioner come from? This meant the deputy commissioner had approved the refund, he added.

The CJP said Rs874.7 million was looted from the national exchequer and asked how the amount would be recovered. Zaidi said the FBR was recovering the amount on its own. The CJP asked how the inquiry was conducted without record. The apex court directed the FBR to complete investigation against Deputy Commissioner Sales Tax Abdul Hameed Anjum in three months and disposed of the case.

The FBR had removed Anjum for allegedly allowing refund of vouchers to three companies in Karachi. He had challenged his removal in the Federal Service Tribunal which acquitted him from the charges with the ruling that no evidence was found against the petitioner to support the allegations.