PTBA demands immediate removal of FTO

KARACHI: The Pakistan Tax Bar Association (PTBA), the apex tax bar of the country, has demanded removal of Asif Jah from the office of the Federal Tax Ombudsman.

In an emergent meeting held on November 29, 2021, the PTBA resolved that Asif Mehmood Jah is not capable of holding the office of the FTO and must be removed from the office of the FTO immediately.

“He [Asif Jah] does not deserve to hold this prestigious office but also incompetent to maintain cordial relationship between the tax bar and the institution.”

The meeting was held following the statement of the FTO aired by various television channels.

“The FTO has clearly shown his intention for not taking any action against the employees of the FBR and he also mentioned that he is proud to be an ex-employee of the FBR and also assured being a colleague, he will not initiate any inquiry, investigation and defiance proceedings against them.”

The executive body of the PTBA has shown concern and resolved that it strongly condemned the statement of the FTO.

“The statement/speech by the FTO is in clear violation of the oath taken by him,” it added. The body decided to observe a protest strike and not to appear before the FTO.

The PTBA board also resolved that the retired officials from the FBR should not be appointed in the FTO office, as they have a revenue approach instead of judicial and new appointments would be made from the legal fraternity to save the credibility of the institution.