ISLAMABAD: The recent transfer of two senior Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials from Karachi to Islamabad has ignited a firestorm of controversy, casting a shadow over ongoing investigations into alleged benami transactions and money laundering in vehicle imports.
The FBR labels these moves as routine, but the timing raises red flags of potential interference in high-stakes probes. Abdul Hameed Abro, Commissioner (Ops) Inland Revenue, Benami Zone-III, who led a crackdown on benami vehicle import deals, was transferred after exposing powerful lobbies exploiting baggage and gift schemes, claiming his national interest actions to curb fake documentation and treasury losses triggered his ouster, per his social media post.
Under Abro’s leadership, Benami Zone-III probed vehicle clearances from February 2018 to May 2025, demanding import records, customs declarations, contracts, and bank statements from commercial importers with suspected customs backing.
Meanwhile, Sheeraz Ahmad, Director of Post Clearance Audit (PCA), South, transferred alongside him, uncovered Rs38 billion in revenue leakage via under-invoicing and illegal hawala/hundi networks in the Faceless Customs Assessment (FCA) system.
These transfers spark fears of disrupted enforcement, though the FBR insists on routine procedures. Web context on tax probes shows past interference, while posts found on X reflect outrage—some demand transparency, others suspect cover-up.
Critically, the narrative of “administrative routine” may mask political pressure—web data hints at prior scandals, and X sentiment suggests distrust in investigation continuity, pointing to serious risks.
