JAP) has formally taken up the matter of an alleged unlawful exercise

USPA NEWS -

Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) has formally taken up the matter of an alleged unlawful exercise of authority by the Registrar (FTO), Pakistan, before international accountability forums, including the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), Vienna, the Asian Ombudsman Association Secretariat, and the OIC Ombudsman Association
controversy stems from a letter dated 16.07.2026, issued by the Registrar, FTO styled as “Pre-Hearing Requirements in Respect of Maintainability of Review Petitions”. In its interim reply by JAP headed by Muhammad Azhar Siddique, Senior Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan, addressed to Registrar FTO and copied to the international ombudsman bodies.

the JAP described the letter as unprecedented, stating that no such “pre-hearing requirements” or “pre-hearing directions” find mention, sanction, or precedent in the Establishment of the Office of FTO Ordinance, 2000, the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Act, 2013, the Federal Tax Ombudsman Investigation and Disposal of Complaints Regulations, 2001, or in reported case law.

The JAP has raised a fundamental jurisdictional objection, contending that the Registrar’s office performs purely ministerial and administrative functions, and that the determination of maintainability of any petition is a judicial function vesting exclusively in the adjudicating forum.

the JAP described the letter as unprecedented, stating that no such “pre-hearing requirements” or “pre-hearing directions” find mention, sanction, or precedent in the Establishment of the Office of FTO Ordinance, 2000, the Federal Ombudsmen Institutional Reforms Act, 2013, the Federal Tax Ombudsman Investigation and Disposal of Complaints Regulations, 2001, or in reported case law. The JAP has raised a fundamental jurisdictional objection, contending that the Registrar’s office performs purely ministerial and administrative functions, and that the determination of maintainability of any petition is a judicial function vesting exclusively in the adjudicating forum. *JAP has additionally raised concerns regarding the drafting of the Registrar’s letter, observing that its language and structure suggested it may have been generated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) without independent legal scrutiny, and has called for greater diligence in official communications carrying legal consequences* “*Institution Capture by former FBR Tax Employees.