ISLAMABAD - A parliamentary committee on Thursday has recommended the Federal Board of Revenue to consult National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for starting investigation against the corrupt officers of the Bureau.
The Sub-Committee of Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue met at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Mohsin Aziz has analysed list of all inquiries conducted by the FBR and action taken under the Efficiency & Discipline Rules, 1973 pending as on 15 Nov 2015 against the corrupt officers of the FBR along with their outcome as on 31 September 2017.
The committee was astonished to see that no significant actions were taken and the penalties given were below the scope of crimes committed.
The committee members were of the view that FBR had proposed soft punishments to the corrupt officers.
The committee sought report on the status of inquiries in next three months and also asked to start process for re-initiating some of the inquiries.
The committee while appreciating some of the investigation and inquiries undertaken also called for effort on implementing the results of inquiries.
Minister of State for Finance Rana Muhammad Afzal assured the committee that FBR would take action against the corrupt officials. He directed the FBR to initiate the action against corrupt officials who issued fake refunds.
"The FBR should identify the officers who are issuing fake tax refunds," he added. He proposed to form a separate body under a judge to ensure punishment to the culprits.
The FBR in last meeting told the sub-committee that there were a total of 198 cases of inquiries in 2015 out of which 99 cases settled and 6 officers were removed from the service.
The remaining cases have been pending at different courts and in some cases the inquiries are still underway.
The meeting was attended by Senator Mohsin Leghari, Member Administration FBR Tasneem Rehman, former member administration Shahid Jatoi among other officers from FBR.