KARACHI: Adeel Sikandar Yousafani, who was working as tax officer under Secretary (Management Customs-III) FBR has approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) and filed a constitutional petition against dismissal from service due to ex-Pakistan leave.
On 28 September 2021, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is law-abiding citizen and was serving as income tax officer (BS-16) and joined the service through Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) in the cadre of income tax officer on competitive basis/ merit and was issued appointment letter in the said cadre by the competent authority after observance of all codal formalities on April 2005.
He argued that petitioner was granted 1080 days ex-Pakistan leave for the period from April 15, 2013 to March 29, 2016 to pursue mater of management and professional accounting (MMPA), university of Toronto, however, to enable the petitioner to get CA/CPA designation, the ex-Pakistan leave was further extended from March 30, 2016 to September 15, 2018, therefore, petitioner was unable to resume his duties.
He added the after expiry of leave in September 2018, applied for the extension in his ex-Pakistan leave for 30 months to enable him to complete his in-depth tax program, however, request for extension in leave was not given any consideration and inquiry was made by the concerned authority and without given an opportunity for in-person hearing and major penalty from removal of service was imposed.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Secretary (Management Customs-III) FBR as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may to direct the customs officials to expeditiously decide the departmental appeal strictly in accordance with law enabling the petitioner to pursue his further remedy.