KTBA condemns FTO statement, demands resignation

KARACHI: The Karachi Tax Bar Association (KTBA) has passed a resolution to condemn the statement of Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Asif Mahmood Jah, a statement said.

The statement made by the FTO lately televised on electronic media/uploaded on social media is an offense towards the taxpayers and manifests his nepotism and biased approach in discharge of his official duties, it added.

The arbitrary and belligerent statement by the FTO is not only contrary to his oath prescribed in Schedule via Section 3(2) of the Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance, 2000 read with Section 8 of the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms Act, 2013 but also makes him guilty of misconduct that renders him incapable of holding public office anymore.

The entire tax fraternity is in a fix over the rude and offensive remarks of Dr Jah and demands his immediate resignation from the office of the FTO, the KTBA demanded.

“Nonetheless, by way of this resolution, we ask the honourable President of Pakistan to remove him from his office in exercise of his powers vested U/s 6 (2) of the FTO Ordinance, 2000 else a reference against him may be sent to [the] Supreme Judicial Council under the recourse of Section 5 of [the] FTO Institutional Reforms Act, 2013 immediately,” the KTBA resolution read.

The statement has eroded already depleting confidence of the taxpayers and the tax consultants in the office of the Federal Tax Ombudsman, which had bluntly been submissive towards the department and have shied away for not allowing stay of recovery/injunctions to the complainants: Section 10 and 11; avoiding defiance proceeding against the tax collectors: Section 12; and punish the tax collectors for contempt: Section 16 and 12 ibid for obvious reasons.

On a final note, the KTBA urged the Law Ministry that rules may be prescribed to desist induction of the retired FBR officials in the office of the Federal Tax Ombudsman for the sake of transparency and propriety.

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