Contempt of court: Tax officals protest colleague’s arrest

FAISALABAD/ SARGODHA:

Income Tax employees in Faisalabad and Sargodha did not work on Wednesday to protest against the arrest of Faisalabad additional commissioner (Inland Revenue).

The Federal Tax Ombudsman Shoaib Suddle had Mohammad Saleem arrested on Monday and sent to Adiala Jail after he rejected an apology submitted by Saleem. Saleem was convicted of contempt of court – for using derogatory language against the ombudsman – and sentenced to three months in jail and fined him Rs50,000. Earlier, Saleem had not replied to a contempt notice served on him. He had filed petitions before the high court which had been dismissed. The Sargodha tax officials went on a ‘pen down’ strike on Wednesday and protested in front of the Regional Tax Office. They wore black armbands and demanded that Saleem be released. They vowed to continue their protest against the “illegal” arrest until Saleem was released.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2012.