Staff Correspondent:

The government has suspended eight NBR officials for publicly tearing up their transfer letters during a nearly two-month work boycott movement against tax reform measures.

The Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the Finance Ministry issued separate notifications in this regard on Tuesday.

The suspended individuals will serve as “special acting officials” and would receive allowances during the suspension period, the notification read. The suspension order applies to five joint tax commissioners and three deputy tax commissioners.

As per the notification, the government issued transfer letters on 22 June, ordering the accused to join their new workstations within two days amid their defiant work abstention programme.

But, on 24 June, the accused demonstrated “arrogance” by tearing up their transfer letters at a press conference.

The work boycott programme severely hurt the country’s foreign trade activities towards the end of June, prompting the government to go tough on them.

On 29 June, they withdrew the movement. The government welcomed the withdrawal, but noted the “serious offenders” will face justice.

Since then, one customs commissioner has been suspended and three members sent into forced retirement. Furthermore, corruption investigations are continuing against 16 NBR officials.