The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Dr. Asif Mahmood Jah, has initiated an investigation into the Corporate Tax Office (CTO) Islamabad for blatantly violating the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) instructions. The CTO failed to provide the taxpayer with copies of order sheet entries, a constitutional right as upheld by binding orders from the superior judiciary.
It has been reliably learned that the FTO office issued three notices to the Secretary of the Revenue Division/Chairman of the FBR and the CCIR of the CTO Islamabad. They were instructed to submit comments by May 27, 2024, regarding the allegations in the complaints against CTO Islamabad tax employees for their mistreatment of taxpayers.
Tax lawyer Waheed Shahzad Butt stated that the FTO will investigate the allegations of maladministration. The inquiry will focus on why FBR tax employees are engaging in extreme maladministration of justice, openly disobeying orders from the higher judiciary, and ignoring instructions from the parent agency (FBR) without fear of accountability.
Waheed further added that the CTO is involved in contemptuous attempts to undermine the authority of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of Pakistan, as seen in the landmark order issued in Mukhtar Ahmad Ali vs The Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad and another (2023 SCP 312), as well as binding verdicts recorded in Waheed Shahzad Butt vs. Federation of Pakistan and others (PLD 2016 Lah. 872). The CTO has also ignored guidelines provided by the parent agency (FBR, previously CBR) in Circular-Letter No: 3(9)IT-IV/78 dated 28/03/1978 and Circular No. 15 of 1958 dated 08/10/1958, in conjunction with Article 19A of the Constitution.
It was categorically requested to allow permission to inspect the complete tax record, including order sheets related to income tax proceedings conducted under section 122(5A), and to provide certified copies of order sheets for proceedings on 22-04-2024 and 30-04-2024, where the Registered ITP-FBR and Advocate appeared in person before the CTO tax employee. Irrefutable evidence in the form of GPS logs is available, which is sufficient to reveal the underlying story and the consequences of taking a stand against corrupt practices, according to the complainant.
