July 7, 2020
PRESS RELEASE
Ill-motivated removal of Chairperson of FBR
Mr. Abid Saqi, Vice-Chairman, Pakistan Bar Council and Syed Qalb-i-Hassan, President, Supreme Court Bar Association, have expressed their serious concerns on the abrupt removal of the Chairperson of FBR and adhoc appointment of Mr. Muhammad Javed Ghani, in her place, and that too just for three months. They have expressed their surprise and apprehension that the top level changes in the FBR, at this critical juncture, when the Hon’ble Supreme Court has referred the matter pertaining to the high profile case of Mr. Justice Qasi Faez Isa, to the FBR, for investigation, prima facie, amounts to manipulate and adversely influence the investigation. They have, therefore, strongly criticized the ill-motivated move of the Federal Government to remove the Chairperson of the FBR and not replacing her by permanent appointment which gives strength to the apprehension that the Government is not willing to let the FBR to proceed with the matter of investigation pertaining to the case of Mr. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, independently and maintaining its neutrality which, in a way, amounts to contempt of Court.
The Bar Leaders have, therefore, demanded of the Government to reverse its Order of removing the Chairperson of the FBR or in the alternate a Senior independent Officer of the FBR, not below Grade-22, is appointed, so as to ensure an independent and neutral investigation of the matter stands referred to the FBR by the apex Court relating to the high profile case of Mr. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, otherwise the investigation and any report in that regard will not be accepted by the legal fraternity and the Bar will strongly resist the same.
SECRETARY