In an apparent move to lead the reform process in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) himself and prevent theft of billions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered 36 high-ranking FBR officials from their posts, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.

It was like an earthquake that has shaken the FBR top brass as on prime minister’s directives 12 senior FBR officers from Grades 21 and 22 have been ordered to report to the Admin Pool.

But the tremors that followed the earthquake were even more stronger as in total 36 FBR officers from Grade 20 to 22 have been removed from their posts.

Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar said the government’s step to remove corrupt officers was historic as many corruption officers will be shown the door.

The FBR has notified transfers of 12 senior officers of the Inland Revenue Service and Pakistan Customs Service ranging from BS-21 to BS-22.

The FBR said the transfers were made with immediate effect and until further orders.

According to an FBR notification, the officers who have been transferred included Member Customs Accounting Mukarram Jah Ansari, Member IR Policy Afaq Qureshi, and Member Customs Operations Dr Fareed Iqbal Qureshi.

The BS-21 officers who were transferred included Shah Bano DG IOC (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21), Fareed Iqbal Qureshi (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21), Tariq Mustafa Khan (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21), Ahmad Rauf (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21), Mirza Mubashir Baig (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21), Hyder Ali Dharejo (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21), Muhammad Azam Sheikh (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21), Muhammad Saleem (Pakistan Customs Service/BS-21), Abdul Wahid Uqaily (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21), Afaque Ahmed Qureshi (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21), and Khurshid Ahmad Khan Marwat (Inland Revenue Service/BS-21).

However, total 36 FBR officers of Grade 20 to 22 were removed from their posts. According to the notification, 14 of the officers were belonged to Customs Group and 22 officers to Inland Revenue Service.

Grade 22 DG Customs Intelligence Faiz Ahmed has been posted as DG Customs Academy Karachi.

Muhammad Sadiq of Customs Group Grade 21 was posted as DG Customs Karachi. Abdul Qadir Memon of Customs Group from Grade 21 was posted as DG Investment Islamabad.

Ali Raza of Grade 21 appointed as DG Customs Intelligence. Junaid Jalil was appointed Chief Collector Customs Karachi. Irfan Ur Rehman was appointed as Chief Collector Customs Export Karachi.

Fayyaz Anwar and Mohsin Rafique of Customs Group Grade 20 were also transferred.

Nadeem Rizvi of Inland Renew Grade 22 was appointed as DG Services Academy Lahore. Amina Hasan of Grade 21 was appointed as Director Anti-Benami Appointed.

Ahmad Shuja Khan of Grade 21 was removed from the post of Member Audit.

Others officers who were transferred were Abid Raza, Dr Sarmad, Farooq Azam, Imtiaz Solangi, Abid Mehmood, Tariq Arbab, Aram Maqbool, Quratul Ain Dogar, Saima Shahzad, Ashad Javed, Seema Bukhari, Sadia Sadaf and Yaqub Mukko.

On Tuesday last, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had taken notice of the ‘wilful’ delay in tax cases and ordered for suspension of Commissioner Inland Revenue Islamabad and other relevant officials.

The prime minister, while issuing directives for the suspension of all the relevant officials, directed for holding of inquiry against them, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

Shehbaz Sharif, soon after assuming PM office, had directed immediate reforms in the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and decided to oversee the process himself.

Reporter Waqas Azeem