ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued notices to two officials of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) after four senior officials challenged the legality of their promotion to BPS 22 posts.

Though in its order the court said the promotions of the officers will be subject to a final decision of the court, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Friday issued notifications for the officers’ promotions, which were recommended by a selection board.

On August 1, the selection board recommended the promotions of 13 officers, including FBR officers Chaudhry Safdar Hussein and Dr Mohammad Irshad from BPS 21 to BPS 22 posts, after which Dr Irshad assumed charge as member Inland Revenue operation.

Four officers then filed a petition against the promotion of the two FBR officers. The petitioners are Director General Withholding Tax Haroon Mohammad Khan Tareen, member Inland Revenue tribunal Raana Ahmed, member Inland Revenue appellate tribunal Riaz Ahmed Khan and member accounting at the FBR headquarters Seema Majid.

The petitioners’ counsel, Abdul Rehman Siddiqui argued before the court that the promoted officers were junior to them and that Chaudhry Safdar was at number 10 on the seniority list and Dr Irshad at number 16.

The counsel said the petitioners had been at the top of the seniority list and were not promoted and alleged that the petitioners were denied promotions for political reasons.

According to the petition, Haroon Tareen had refused to grant undue favours to the prime minister’s special assistant on revenue Haroon Akhtar, which was why he was denied a promotion. It said that Chaudhry Safdar was the chief commissioner large taxpayers in Lahore, where three of Haroon Akhtar’s mills were located.

The petition goes on to say that Chaudhry Safdar accommodated Mr Akhtar and was therefore promoted to BPS 22.

Justice Farooq sought replies from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Haroon Akhtar and the FBR.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2016