ISLAMABAD: Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR) is functioning without a registrar since September 10, a month now, following the Ministry of Law and Justice relinquished services of former ATIR Registrar Zahid Habib.
According to ATIR officials, lower staff of tribunal was performing affairs supposed to be performed by the registrar.
As the tribunal still run all affairs under ‘centralized system’ in which all regions reports to the headquarters in Islamabad, therefore, the tribunal was in dire need to new registrar, they added.
Ministry of Law and Justice had barred Registrar of Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue (ATIR), Zahid Habib from performing his duty as tribunal’s registrar last week September 10.
According to ATIR officials, former registrar had relinquished the charge following the ministry’s order in which it had barred Habib from performing duty as ATIR registrar.
According to details, Ministry of Law and Justice had repatriated Habib in account of a complaint challenging his appointment as registrar of tribunal.
Meanwhile newly appointed Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, Accountant Member, Ghulam Mujtaba Bhatti has taken charge of his office couple of days ago.
The Ministry of Law and Justice had confirmed his appointment as Accountant Member recently following which he had given joining at the ATIR, Islamabad headquarters.
The notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice authorizing his appointment stated:”In exercise of powers conferred by sub section 130(4) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001, the competent authority has approved the appointment of Dr Ghulam Mujtaba Bhatti, an officer of Inland Revenue Service (IRS) as Accountant Member in the Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue, Islamabad for the period of three years…”.
Officials of ATIR stated that the tribunal was still in need of more appointments by the ministry. They said tribunal can enhance its working capacity with appointment of new members and recent appointment of Bhatti would help the tribunal to perform adequately.
