Misuse of public funds: LTBA-PILC urges FBR to conduct probe

ISLAMABAD: Lahore Tax Bar Association Public Interest Litigation Committee has urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to probe into alleged misuse of public funds in legal defense of senior tax officials during investigation of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

In this regard, the Chairman of the Public Interest Litigation Committee of the Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA-PILC) has called upon the Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), to take immediate and transparent action against the alleged misuse of public funds and abuse of authority in connection with the legal defense financed by the FBR for one of its senior officers currently under investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

According to available information, the FIA had issued a formal notice under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to the FBR in connection with an investigation into serious allegations of misconduct.

As per allegations, the inquiry reportedly pertains to a shooting/ firing incident among tax officers and the alleged collection and distribution of illegal “speed money”, illicit payments extracted from taxpayers in exchange for the processing and release of lawful refund claims, it was accused.

The Chairman of the PIL Committee stressed that public money cannot be used to fund the personal legal defense of any officer facing individual criminal or administrative inquiry. He urged that a special committee be constituted to review the matter comprehensively and authorise an audit of all expenditures incurred on account of the writ petition filed in this regard.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025