IHC moved against appointment of Shabbar Zaidi as FBR chairman

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The appointment of Federal Board of Revenue Chairman Shabbar Zaidi was challenged in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday. Ali Muhammad, a BPS-19 officer, contended in a petition that competent officers should be considered for appointment to the FBR chairman. He appealed to the court to nullify the appointment of the FBR chairman. He prayed to court to stop the appointments in the FBR from the private sector. The petitioner stated that discriminatory attitude should not be adopted towards the regular officers of the board. The Federal Board of Revenue chairman has been made a party in the petition.

Shabbar Zaidi appointed as FBR honorary chairman for two years

On May 10, the federal government had appointed Shabbar Zaidi as the honorary chairman of the Federal Board Revenue (FBR) for two years. Zaidi will not take salary as the FBR chairman, however, he will be fully authorised to exercise powers of the key position. Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken senior FBR officers into confidence over the appointment of Shabbar Zaidi for the top position. The development came forth after meeting of Zaidi with senior government officials. Meanwhile, some senior Federal Board of Revenue officers had also met Advisor to PM on Establishment Shehzad Arbab yesterday to appraise their reservations regarding Zaidi’s appointment. Arbab had assured the FBR officials to forward their concerns to the PM Imran Khan. A day earlier, the newly-appointed Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi called on Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the country’s economic situation and several other affairs. The meeting that took place at the Prime Minister’s House was also attended by Adviser to PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh. Matters related to tax collection and recommendations for the betterment of the tax collection system were discussed in the meeting.