LHC rejects persecution allegations against Suddle
14 September, 2012
LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday rejected a petition filed by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Additional Commissioner (Inland Revenue) Muhammad Saleem against Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Shoaib Suddle and directed him to appear before the FTO for an inquiry. Saleem had alleged that Suddle had summoned him on a fake complaint with charges of mismanagement. He argued that under the income tax and FTO ordinances, a tax officer could not be summoned. Saleem said he had refused to entertain a fake tax refund claim of about Rs 1.5 million, referred to him by the FTO. The taxpayer had moved an appeal against rejection of the claim only to pressure him, he stated. Suddle had summoned him for defying his "illegal orders", he maintained. The court did not agree with the petitioner's contentions and directed him to appear before the FTO for an inquiry. It is pertinent to mention that before the aforementioned petition, Saleem had filed three other petitions challenging Suddle's appointment as FTO. End.
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