FBR Officials Face ECL, Arrest Warning Over Cigarette Theft, Smuggled Petrol and NCP Vehicles
Nadeem Tanoli
Islamabad: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is under intense parliamentary scrutiny following serious allegations. These allegations involve the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from FBR godowns in Swabi and Mardan, the suspected involvement of officials in repeated irregularities, suspicious assets beyond known income, smuggled Iranian petrol, suspected tax evasion and the use of non custom paid and tampered vehicles by FBR officers. The Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control directed FBR to place the names of non-cooperating officials on the Exit Control List and ordered arrests where necessary.The most explosive issue emerged when the sub committee presented its report on the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from FBR godowns. The report highlighted serious irregularities inside FBR and pointed toward the alleged involvement of officials in multiple incidents. The matter raised major questions about internal accountability, official supervision and the protection of seized or stored goods under government custody.The committee also expressed concern over reports that assets of certain FBR officials were beyond their known sources of income. Members viewed the matter as serious and linked it to the broader pattern of irregularities being examined by the sub committee.The committee took serious notice of smuggled Iranian petrol and the alleged sale of tax exempt raw material before it reached designated exempted areas. According to the committee proceedings, such practices resulted in significant tax evasion and raised concerns about possible loopholes in monitoring, enforcement and official oversight.Committee Chairman Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman directed the FBR to place the names of non cooperating officials on the ECL. He also ordered that arrests be made where necessary, indicating that the inquiry may move beyond routine departmental proceedings if officials fail to cooperate.The sub committee was directed to formulate new Terms of Reference to widen or strengthen the investigation, while its tenure was extended accordingly. The committee also condemned what it described as a defamation campaign against members of the committee. In another damaging development, the committee took serious notice of reports regarding the use of non custom paid and tampered vehicles by FBR officers. The chairman directed the submission of complete details, including the names of officers using such vehicles.The committee also suggested that any officer wishing to retain such a vehicle must first pay the applicable customs duties. Provincial authorities were directed to submit records of non customs paid vehicles, expanding the scope of scrutiny beyond FBR’s internal reporting.The discussion has placed FBR under pressure on multiple fronts, including cigarette theft, smuggling, tax evasion, suspicious assets, non cooperation and misuse of non custom paid (NPC) vehicles. The committee’s directions indicate that officials linked to these matters may face stricter action if records are not produced and cooperation is not ensured.
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