In a startling development, Senator Faisal Vawda on Thursday alleged that he has received death threats from certain Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officials over his criticism of the procurement process for the purchase of 1,010 vehicles worth Rs. 6 billion by the FBR.
Speaking during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, the senator claimed that, in addition to the death threats, FBR officials also warned him that his business would be destroyed. The committee chairman, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, backed Vawda’s claims, stating that he had received similar threats.
Read More: FBR to Purchase Over 1,000 Honda City Cars with Taxpayer Funds
Vawda further alleged that a company was awarded the contract for the procurement of the 1,010 vehicles without due process. He claimed that another company, which had offered to provide the vehicles at a much lower cost, faced repercussions, including an FBR raid on its office. The senator also accused FBR officials of using official vehicles for personal use, suggesting that this would be the fate of the more than 1,000 vehicles the FBR intends to acquire.
In response, FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, who was also present in the meeting, condemned the death threats as unjustified and suggested referring the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The FBR chairman also assured the committee that the procurement process would not proceed until the committee is satisfied with the matter.
