Senator Faisal Vawda has alleged that officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issued death threats after he criticized the board’s plan to purchase over 1,000 vehicles.
Speaking during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Thursday, Vawda claimed that FBR officials, including Ali Salih, Shahid, and Dr. Sajjad Siddiqui, threatened him following the committee’s January 22 session. He further alleged that FBR officials raided his company after he proposed a cost-effective alternative of 1,010 vehicles for the board.
According to Vawda, employees of a multinational firm linked to his business were harassed, and officials warned him of dire consequences, which he said could discourage Japanese investors.
Despite these alleged threats, the senator vowed to expose corruption within the FBR, claiming he had evidence against 54 officials, including proof of vehicle misuse.
His accusations come just days after he criticized the FBR’s decision to procure 1,010 vehicles, questioning how the board could justify such an expense when it failed to meet its revenue target of Rs384 billion.
Speaking in the Senate on January 28, Vawda sarcastically remarked that the revenue shortfall might have earned FBR officials the luxury of new vehicles. He suggested an alternative leasing model, where both employees and the government would contribute 5 percent toward vehicle costs.