LAHORE: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officer, Wazir Hussain Lashari, has been handed the major penalty of dismissal from service following charges of embezzlement.
The decision was communicated through an official notification released by the FBR on Friday.
According to the details, the disciplinary proceedings, conducted under the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973, were initiated against Lashari, an MIS Officer (BS-16) stationed at the Regional Tax Office (RTO) in Hyderabad. The charges brought against him included delivering cheques without proper authorization and failure to pay significant amounts to vendors and families of deceased employees of RTO, Hyderabad.
The inquiry committee, formed by RTO, Hyderabad, submitted its report on January 5, 2018, confirming the validity of the charges against Lashari. Subsequently, a show cause notice was issued to the accused on February 7, 2018.
Lashari, in response, denied the charges leveled against him in a reply dated February 23, 2018. However, after reviewing the inquiry report, along with other evidence, Chief Commissioner of RTO, Hyderabad, as the authorized officer, recommended the imposition of a major penalty – “Removal from Service.”
Member (Admn/HR) acted as the authority in the case and granted Lashari an opportunity for a hearing on June 14, 2023. Following a thorough examination of the case’s facts and available documentary evidence, including the charge sheet, statement of allegations, inquiry report, and verbal submissions by the accused during the hearing, the decision was made to impose a minor penalty of recovering the loss incurred due to Lashari’s negligence.
Dissatisfied with the penalty, Lashari filed a departmental appeal before the Appellate Authority, Secretary Revenue Division Chairman FBR, under the Civil Servants (Appeal) Rules, 1977.
During the personal hearing held on January 5, 2024, Lashari admitted to diverting funds meant for vendors and families of deceased employees for his medical treatment. The departmental representative emphasized that payments were made to Hyderabad Filling Station without any payable amount or received bills against which the cheques were issued.
Upon reviewing the relevant records, charge sheet, statement of allegations, the inquiry committee’s report, and the assertions made during the personal hearing, the Appellate Authority found Lashari involved in misappropriation of funds. Considering the gravity of the charges and the accused’s admission during the hearing, the Appellate Authority, in the exercise of powers conferred under Rule-6 of the Civil Servants (Appeal) Rules, 1977, modified the minor penalty into a major one, resulting in the dismissal of Wazir Hussain Lashari from service. This stern action underscores the commitment to maintaining integrity and discipline within government institutions.
