PBC, SCBA express concern over removal of Nausheen Amjad as FBR chairperson.

ISLAMABAD -- The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Tuesday expressed their concern over the removal of Nausheen Javaid Amjad and appointment of Muhammad Javaid Ghani as the new chairperson of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for three months.

In a combined statement, PBC Vice-Chairman Abid Saqi and SCBA President Syed Qalb-I-Hassan voiced their 'surprise and apprehension that the top-level changes in the FBR, at this critical time, when Supreme Court has referred the matter pertaining to the high profile case of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, to the FBR, for investigation, prima facie, amounts to manipulate and adversely influence the investigation".

The statement added that the both have, therefore, strongly criticised the 'ill-motivated' move of the federal government to remove the chairperson of the FBR and not replacing her by a permanent appointment which gives strength to the apprehension that the government is not willing to let the FBR proceed with the matter of investigation pertaining to the case of Justice Isa, independently and maintaining its neutrality which, in a way, amounts to contempt of court.

'The Bar Leaders have, therefore, demanded of the Government to reverse its Order of removing the Chairperson of the FBR or in the alternate a Senior independent Officer of the FBR, not below Grade-22, is appointed, so as to ensure an independent and neutral investigation of the matter stands referred to the FBR by the apex Court relating to the high profile case of Mr Justice Qazi Faez Isa,' the communique stated.

'Otherwise, the investigation and any report in that regard...