Federal Revenue Alliance employees union (FBR union) has announced to go on countrywide strike from next week against poor security measures at the regional tax offices (RTOs) and suspension of six union workers for raising voice in this regard.
FRA Central President Mian Abdul Qayyum said the union had informed Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue, RTO, through a notice, to go on strike from next week (Monday), giving him time of one week to fulfill their demands.
"The country is already in the grip of terrorism and RTOs, being one of the sensitive buildings on the hit list of terrorists, should be provided proper security and our union members, who had been suspended for raising voice against poor security arrangements of the administration, should be restored within this week. The management should immediately withdraw firs filed against nine officials who are also unionists."
Mian Abdul Qayyum lamented the miserable security of the all regions of the FBR saying there was no properly trained security staff deputed at the RTOs. He said in all offices only grade-four employees were performing that highly sensitive duty instead of professional and trained security guards, adding the peons, bailiff and notice-servers, who do not know even how to catch a rifle, were assigned to stand for the security of more than 2,200 staff of RTO where records of billions of rupees were kept.
He condemned the misbehaviour of officers towards a bailiff (Arif Baig) while performing duty as a security guard, who is also patient of heart. Arif Baig is in hospital and has been paralysed due to harassment of officers; he alleged and said the union would arrange a gathering on Wednesday to pray for his recovery as well as for the martyrs of Peshawar incident.