Speculation rife as FBR Chairman Shabbar Zaidi weighs going on medical leave

ISLAMABAD: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Shabbar Zaidi will decide today (Friday) whether to go on an indefinite period of leave from his official duties on grounds of ill health, reported The News.

“I will decide on the medical advice tomorrow (Friday),” Zaidi told The News when asked about his leave. Rumors are circulating in Islamabad that the FBR chairman had informed Adviser to PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Thursday that he would going on a long leave. 

Zaidi’s aides informed The News that Zaidi had cancelled most of his meetings this week as he was not feeling well. Sources also confided to the publication that Shaikh visited the FBR for the first time in six months and expressed his displeasure at the FBR’s performance.

Also read: Shabbar Zaidi appointed as FBR chairman

He also arranged several meetings with the textile tycoons at the finance ministry to resolve the issue of refunds payments, but the lingering controversy could not be solved. After a meeting at FBR headquarters, the chairman applied for a two-week leave on medical grounds.

Earlier, Zaidi had gone on a sick leave from January 6 to January 19. On January 11, the FBR rejected rumours about any sort of rift in the government economic team. “Rumors of any sort of rift in the economic team is utterly incorrect," said the FBR in a statement adding that Shabbar Zaidi was on a two-week leave.