Senators briefed on tax amendments on daily basis.

ISLAMABAD -- The Senate Standing Committee on Friday continued its deliberation on amendments to the Finance Bill 2020 as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairperson complained about a restriction on her entry in an official vehicle in the Parliament House.

Since June 16, FBR Chairperson Nausheen Amjad and her team on a daily basis have briefed the senators on the tax amendments introduced through the finance bill and replied to their queries.

A source in the FBR told Dawn that the FBR chairperson had formally complained to the chairman of the standing committee, Senator Farooq H Naek, that she was not allowed to enter the parking area in an official car.

Ms Amjad was asked to go on foot to the meeting from the entry gate, the source said. On further inquiry, the chairperson was told that she cannot go in the car on the order of Senate Chairman Mohammad Sadiq Sanjrani.

Senator Naeek could not be contacted by Dawn for comments despite several attempts.

Ms Amjad also complained to Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala about the development.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Mandviwala confirmed that the issue was in his knowledge.

`This is a wrong approach,` he said, adding the FBR chairperson is a grade 22 officer and was invited to brief the committee and her car should be allowed to enter the parliament building. `I don`t agree with this attitude. She is coming to sit in the parliament and you have to respect her.

A spokesperson for the Senate Secretariat said no instructions had been issued to stop her vehicle from entering the premises.

Since April 13, the Senate chairman secretariat and FBR have exchanged several letters on the postponement or cancellation of a scheduled meeting between Mr Sanjrani and Ms Amjad.

On April 13, a letter was sent to the FBR chairperson to explain the reasons for the last-minute cancellation of a meeting with the Senate chairman. The meeting was scheduled for April 10 at 3pm.

The Senate chairman...

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