ISLAMBAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a major penalty on a customs officer of BS-17, ordering his compulsory retirement after he was found guilty of theft and unauthorized removal of seized goods.
During his tenure at the Directorate General of Intelligence & Investigation-Customs in Karachi, Syed Irshad Ali Shah, Principal Appraiser (Time Scale BS-17), was found guilty of stealing and unlawfully removing seized goods, including 291 bottles of liquor of various brands and office equipment such as almirahs and air conditioning units. Following an investigation, the Inquiry Officer confirmed the charges, leading to the imposition of a minor penalty of withholding increments for three years without cumulative effect, effective from May 23, 2022.
Despite this minor penalty, the officer continued to engage in misconduct, causing significant administrative challenges within the customs department. As a result, he was transferred from Karachi to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Headquarters and assigned to the Secretary (Administration) through an official order dated September 13, 2024.
Upon reporting to his new post on September 24, 2024, he soon applied for five days of leave from October 18 to October 22, 2024, which was approved. However, he failed to resume his duties on October 23, 2024, and has remained absent without submitting a leave application or obtaining permission from the competent authority, despite repeated directives to return.
Consequently, the FBR initiated disciplinary proceedings against Syed Irshad Ali Shah under Rule-7 read with Rule-6 of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. A show-cause notice was issued on January 7, 2025, and he was placed under suspension the following day. In response, the accused officer submitted a statement claiming his absence was due to a heart condition requiring treatment in Karachi. He was also given an opportunity to present his case in person on March 4, 2025, during which he reiterated his medical concerns.
Upon reviewing the case file, it was observed that Syed Irshad Ali Shah failed to provide a valid medical certificate from an authorized institution. The only documentation he submitted was a photocopy of a prescription and a recommendation letter from a private doctor, which was neither in the prescribed format nor properly dated. His request for six months’ medical leave was deemed non-serious, reflecting a lack of commitment to his service in the customs department.
Given his continuous disregard for professional conduct and failure to comply with administrative directives, the Member (Administration/HR) of FBR, acting as the competent authority, has decided to impose a major penalty of compulsory retirement on Syed Irshad Ali Shah under Rule 4(3)(c) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020. Furthermore, the period of his suspension and unauthorized absence will be treated as leave, subject to the applicable regulations.
The officer retains the right to appeal this decision within 30 days before the Appellate Authority under the Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977. This decision underscores the customs department’s commitment to upholding discipline and integrity by enforcing strict penalties on misconduct.
