RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: In line with the directions of the Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to withdraw all vehicles issued beyond entitlement of tax officials and move a summary to the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet for not issuing any authorization to tax officer/office to use tampered vehicles above 1300cc.

Sources told Business Recorder that the FBR has held a meeting at the FBR House here Wednesday to ensure compliance with the directives of the Chief Justice of Supreme Court during the hearing proceedings of suo motu case # 11/2018 on 05.06.2018.

A special meeting of the Members of the Board was held in the conference room of FBR (HQ) here on Wednesday and chaired by chairman FBR. The meeting took several decisions to ensure compliance of the directives of the Chief Justice of Supreme Court.

The chairman FBR shared with the participants the details of the hearing held in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on June 5, 2018, regarding use of confiscated/tampered/purchased vehicles by the officers of FBR (PCS/IRS), including cars (above 1300cc), Jeeps, Land Cruisers, Parados, Pajeros, SUVs, etc, which are beyond the entitlement of officers.

During the hearing the Chief Justice was informed that in light of the Supreme Court’s directives, all confiscated/tampered luxury vehicles being used by the officers of FBR (PCS/IRS), including cars (above 1300cc), Jeeps, Land Cruisers, Parados, Pajeros, SUVs etc which are beyond the entitlement of officers, have been withdrawn and grounded/parked in respective offices all across the country. The court was further informed about the legal position of the Customs Act in this regard and the ECC’s decision made in Case # 44/3/2006, dated 03-03-2006, regarding use/ disposal of tampered vehicles.

During the meeting it was pointed out that the Chief Justice directed the FBR to move a summary to ECC to review/recall ECC’s earlier decision made in Case # 44/3/2006, dated 03-03-2006. It was further directed that the Board may not issue any further authorization to any officer/office for use of tampered vehicles beyond entitlement until the court has given a final decision in this regard.

The meeting decided that the FBR will move a summary to ECC to review/recall ECC’s earlier decision made in Case # 44/3/2006, dated 03-03-2006. Board/Customs Wing will not issue any further authorization to any officer/office for use of tampered vehicles above 1300 cc until the Court has given a final decision in this regard.

The chairman FBR informed the members that the Chief Justice directed that all vehicles which are beyond the entitlement of the officers be immediately withdrawn from all officers without fail.

The meeting decided that all vehicles which are beyond entitlement of officers are to be immediately withdrawn. These vehicles are to be parked in respective field offices, under the safe custody of a responsible senior officer with the directions that these vehicles may not be used by any officer till the matter is decided by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. The action will be taken by Member (Administration), Member (Customs), and Member IR-Operation.

The chairman FBR informed that it was further directed by the Chief Justice that the chairman FBR will submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court of Pakistan within four days, to the effect that such vehicles, either confiscated/tampered/purchased which are beyond the entitlement of the officers have been recalled from all officers in the FBR (HQ) and field formations of PCS and IRS and that the same have been parked and are no more in use. The affidavit would further certify that besides identified luxury vehicles which have been grounded, no luxury car/jeep, which is beyond the entitlement of the officers, is in the use of any officer whatsoever.

In order for the chairman FBR to submit aforementioned affidavit to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, after satisfying himself that compliance of the court’s directives have been ensured in full respect, following actions to be taken:

Firstly, FBR Member (Customs) to personally verify and certify the compliance with Supreme court’s directives with regard to use of vehicles beyond entitlement whether purchased/confiscated by the Officers of Pakistan Customs and to submit affidavit accordingly.

Secondly, FBR Member (IR-Operations) (IRS formations at Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Quetta) Member (IT) {IRS formations at Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur and Sahiwal} Member (SPR&S) {IRS formations at Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar} DG (WHT) {IRS formations at Sialkot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sargodha} to personally verify and certify the compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives with regard to use of vehicles beyond entitlement whether purchased/ confiscated by the officers of Inland Revenue Service and to submit affidavits accordingly. The action would be taken by Member (IR-Operations), Member (IT), Member (SPR&S) and DG (WHT).

The chairman FBR informed the participants that the Chief Justice of Pakistan has sought vehicle-wise information of expenditure incurred during the last three months on POL, repair and maintenance of all vehicles which are beyond the entitlement of the officers.

The FBR Member (Administration) will obtain vehicle-wise information of expenditure incurred during the last three months (March, April, May, 2018) on POL, repair and maintenance of all vehicles (which are beyond the entitlement of officers), the details of which have been provided by the field formations of both PCS and IRS to the Board for onward submission to the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the sources added.