FBR denounced for disclosing identity of whistle-blower

President Dr Arif Alvi on Wednesday censured the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for leaking the whistle-blower’s identity to the tax-evading private company which allegedly committed financial irregularities. The president ordered the FBR to submit a report within 60 days and also explain why the board failed to fully utilise the information provided by the whistle-blower to recover the maximum sales tax amount from the company that caused losses to the national exchequer. While rejecting a representation filed by the FBR against the order of the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Mr Alvi said this is abhorrent to the whistle-blower concept and legislation. Instead of taking advantage, the FBR has been very lax in its attitude.” The whistle-blower had reported large-scale tax evasion by a private company to the FBR by risking his life, and resultantly received threats from the company.