Federal Board of Revenue Freezes few branches of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited Accounts, Sparking Nationwide Concern

In a sweeping administrative move, the Government of Pakistan through the Revenue Division has issued a series of suspension orders targeting multiple officers of the Federal Board of Revenue, primarily from the Customs Enforcement setup in Quetta, indicating what appears to be a significant internal accountability action within the department. The notifications, all dated April 19, 2026, were issued under Rule 5(1) of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020, empowering the authority to suspend officials with immediate effect pending further proceedings.

Among those suspended is Samiullah, son of Abdul Wali, serving as a Preventive Officer at the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Quetta. His suspension was notified under reference number 0758-C-II/2026, with copies circulated to key offices including the Chairman of FBR, Member Administration and Customs, and the concerned Collector in Quetta. In a similar action, Qamar Abbas, an Inspector in BS-16 posted in the same collectorate, was also suspended through notification number 0766-C-III/2026. The pattern of actions reflects a focused development within the Quetta Customs Enforcement structure.

The suspensions extend to higher-ranking officers as well, suggesting that the matter under scrutiny is not limited to lower staff. Hammad Ahmed, a PCS officer in BS-18 serving as Deputy Collector in Quetta, has been placed under suspension through notification number 0761-C-I/2026. Alongside him, Muhammad Yousaf, an Assistant Collector in BS-17, has also been suspended under notification number 0762-C-I/2026. These actions, involving officers at different tiers of authority, point towards a broader issue rather than isolated incidents.

Further names include Yasir Arafat, a Preventive Officer in BS-16, suspended under notification 0765-C-III/2026, and Ali Kamran, an Inspector in BS-16, whose suspension was issued under notification 0767-C-III/2026. Arif Ali Jumani, also serving as a Preventive Officer in Quetta, has been suspended through notification number 0759-C-II/2026. Each notification follows the same procedural format, invoking the same rule and ensuring dissemination to relevant administrative, financial, and personnel branches, including the AGPR sub-offices.

In a notable development beyond Quetta, Dr. Karam Elahi, a senior PCS officer in BS-20 serving as Director in the Directorate of Intelligence, Peshawar, has also been placed under suspension through notification number 0760-C-I/2026. His inclusion signals that the action is not confined geographically and may involve wider institutional concerns within customs intelligence and enforcement networks.

All notifications have been forwarded to the Printing Corporation of Pakistan Press in Karachi for publication in the Gazette of Pakistan, formalizing these suspensions as part of the official record. The repeated endorsement and signatures of Second Secretary Zakir Hussain across these documents further confirm the coordinated nature of the orders from the HR wing of FBR.

While the notifications do not explicitly state the reasons behind these suspensions, the scale, timing, and concentration of officers within a specific operational domain strongly suggest that a major inquiry, investigation, or disciplinary proceeding is underway. The inclusion of both enforcement and intelligence officials, as well as officers across multiple grades, reflects the seriousness of the situation and the likelihood of systemic irregularities being examined.

This development marks one of the more extensive suspension actions in recent times within Pakistan Customs, raising questions about the underlying case and signaling that further revelations or formal charges may follow as the investigation progresses.