Representations filed before President: Implementation of FTO’s orders remains suspended for 60 days
ISLAMABAD: All representations made before the President against the orders of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) automatically remain suspended for a period of sixty days under the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms Act 2013.
Sources clarified to Business Recorder that a wrong impression has been created that the notice of the President means suspension of the order of the FTO in a specific case. In each and every case where representation has been filed against the orders of the FTO, the implementation of the orders of the FTO remains suspended for a period of 60 days. This happens in all cases where representations have been filed before the President.
It is a routine process of the President Secretariat and has nothing to do with specific orders of the President to suspend the orders of the FTO.
Sources strongly dispelled the impression that filing of representation before the President of Pakistan means that any order has been issued by the President against the FTO. Till finalisation of the case by the President, this is totally illegal to say that the President has suspended the orders of the FTO.
Sources referred to Section 14 (2) of the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms Act 2013 (XIV of 2013), which provides that operation of the impugned order, decision, findings or recommendation shall remain suspended for a period of sixty days, if the representation is made to the Honorable President.
This is a routine practice under the law to suspend the operation of the impugned order, decision, findings or recommendation for a period of sixty days. This does not mean that the President has issued any specific order to suspend the order of the FTO.
It is also a routine practice that either the taxpayer or FBR file representation before the President against the orders of the FTO and Section 14 (2) of the Federal Ombudsman Institutional Reforms Act 2013 is implemented for a 60 days period.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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