Appellate tribunal: FTO directs FBR to ensure quick disposal of pending cases

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to conduct a detailed analysis of all those cases which are pending at the Appellate Tribunal level for more than five years for quick disposal of all such long-pending cases.

According to an order issued by the FTO on Monday, while disposing of a complaint relating to Customs Intelligence, Quetta, the Ombudsman has directed the FBR to conduct a detailed analysis of all those cases which are pending at the Appellate Tribunal level for more than five years and frame an effective policy and issue necessary guidelines to all field formations for quick disposal of all such cases.

As per details, the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Quetta, intercepted one luxury vehicle.

It was alleged that in the registration documents the vehicle was mentioned as “Toyota LiteAce Van”, whereas, physically the same was found as “Toyota Master Ace Surf Van” and the chassis number of the vehicle was also tampered.

During the proceedings of the case, the vehicle being treated tampered, was confiscated and subsequently, sold to the Office of the Accountant General of Balochistan, Quetta (AG) against token money of Rs188,701. The complainant approached the High Court of Balochistan by filing a constitutional petition No 1233/2020 praying that in view of the factual and legal position, the Directorate may be directed to immediately restore the vehicle to the complainant without further delay in the condition in which it was seized on February 3, 2003.

The petition was withdrawn, whereafter, the complaint has been filed in terms of Section 10(1) of the Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance, 2000 (FTO Ordinance).

While responding to the notice of the FTO, the Customs Intelligence, Quetta denied the allegations and pleaded that the delay in disposal of the case was because of the fact that the Tribunal decided the appeal after a lapse of 12 years.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022