LAHORE- The workers of Federal Board of Revenue on Tuesday observed a full-day strike at the Regional Tax Office against the aggression of the Chief Commissioner, announcing to continue this strike and protest for an unidentified period until the authorities fulfill its charter of demands.
The union has also filed a petition against the high officials of the FBR, requesting the court to order police for registering FIR, as the union SVP Rashida Mir was thrashed by the Chief Commissioner Shafqat Mehmood.
In petition, the union also requested the court for withdrawal of fake cases against them.
Union’s central president Mian Abdul Qayyum said that union Lahore president Syed Naeem Abbas along with other office-bearers had submitted the charter of demand with the Chief Commissioner (CC) Inland Revenue, RTO, Lahore Shafqat Mehmood.
“The CC did not give any positive response, saying he neither accepted any union nor any charter of demand. He threatened the union’s office-bearers to withdraw the ‘charter’ otherwise they would be suspended or charge sheeted,” Mian Qayyum stated.
On Tuesday, hundreds of FBR workers assembled on the premises of the RTO Lahore and lodged a protest against the authorities.
Union’s central president Mian Abdul Qayyum, addressing the protest demonstration, said that their strike will continue for an unspecific time period in the RTO Lahore. He said that initially the strike is being observed at the RTO Lahore but if workers’ grievances were not redressed the protest would be extended to the rest of the country.
He added that all Class-IV employees, having matriculation or above qualification may be promoted. He also called for activation of FBR Foundation which should be accelerated in its true spirit.
He said that workers promotions have been stopped for a long time as the regional heads have no power in this regard. So, the union demands that powers may be delegated to concerned Chief Commissioners Inland Revenue/Collectors.
He said that promotion of Inspectors Inland Revenue/ Ministerial Staff (Sales Tax) in respect of waiting list on OPS against direct quota may be taken up on priority basis.
Mian Abdul Qayyum said that several high-ups of the FBR, including Chairman Tariq Bajwa have several time admitted the genuine nature of workers’ demand but they are not ready to implement those demands.