Shabbar Zaidi’s appointment as FBR head challenged in IHC

Shabbar Zaidi's appointment as head of the Federal Board of Revenue was challenged on Friday in the Islamabad High Court.

The petition was filed by Ali Mohammad, a grade-19 officer of Inland Revenue. In his petition, Ali stated that the Zaidi's appointment is illegal as it is a violation of Article 199 of the Constitution.

He further said in his petition that Zaidi has no significant experience in any 'managerial or administrative position' in any private sector organisation comparable to the FBR, local media reported.

The officer continued that law allows private persons to be appointed chairperson of the FBR which has to be done in a non-transparent manner through an advertisement process. He argued that this law had been ignored in Zaidi’s appointment.

The petitioner pleaded with the high court to remove Zaidi as the FBR chairman. Ali has named the establishment division secretary, FBR and Zaidi as respondents in his petition.

Earlier in May, Zaidi was appointed FBR chief after former chairperson Jehanzeb Khan was removed from the post.