The Islamabad High Court has put a temporary halt to the caretaker government's efforts to restructure the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), suspending the notification that formed a committee tasked with implementing the changes. This decision comes after an FBR officer challenged the legality of the move, arguing that it oversteps the caretaker government's mandate as outlined in the Election Act 2017. The officer's petition highlighted that caretaker governments are typically prohibited from making major policy changes or undertaking significant initiatives that could impact the incoming elected government. Despite the Election Commission's earlier warnings against such actions, the caretaker government proceeded to form the restructuring committee. The court's suspension order effectively throws a wrench into the caretaker government's plans, which involved establishing an "Implementation and Asset Distribution Committee" within 72 hours.

This committee, led by Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, was intended to spearhead the FBR restructuring process. The news has sparked mixed reactions, with some commending the court for upholding the caretaker government's limitations and others expressing concerns about potential delays in addressing inefficiencies within the FBR. The caretaker government has yet to respond to the court's decision, but it is expected to explore legal options to challenge the suspension or seek alternative avenues for implementing the desired changes. This development adds another layer of complexity to the already charged political atmosphere in Pakistan, as the country gears up for general elections later this year. The caretaker government's actions and the court's response are likely to be closely scrutinized by all stakeholders involved in the electoral process.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)