The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has withdrawn the name of retired Inland Revenue officer Fareena Mazhar from its proposed list of members for the Benami Adjudication Authority. The decision came after intelligence agencies raised concerns over her inclusion, sources confirmed on Wednesday.
Earlier, the FBR had submitted three names to the federal cabinet for approval. The nominees included Zahoor Ahmed, a retired Grade-22 officer of the Secretariat Group; Fareena Mazhar, a retired Grade-22 Inland Revenue officer; and Suraiya Ahmed Butt, a retired Customs officer. However, Suraiya Ahmed Butt has already been appointed Chairperson of the National Anti-Dumping Authority, which left two names under consideration.
According to officials, intelligence agencies flagged Mazhar’s candidacy, leading to her removal. Following directions from the Prime Minister’s Office, the FBR has revised its summary and proposed retired Customs officer Majid Yousfani as the new nominee. The move underscores how vetting by security institutions continues to play a decisive role in appointments for sensitive regulatory bodies.
The Benami Adjudication Authority, created under the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act of 2017, was designed to oversee cases of properties held in proxy ownership. The system aimed to curb black money, money laundering, and undeclared assets. Enforcement units known as Anti-Benami Zones were also established to investigate suspicious transactions and file references in courts. By 2022, the zones had already initiated cases against properties worth billions of rupees, according to Dawn.
Despite this strong start, progress slowed after the political transition from the PTI government to the PDM-led coalition. Legal experts say that delays in operationalizing the Authority allowed several high-value benami cases to become time-barred, reducing their enforceability. The lack of consistent political will and limited resources further weakened the framework. Reports from BBC suggest that such governance hurdles often undermine accountability systems in Pakistan.
The removal of Mazhar’s name reflects both institutional caution and the wider struggle to sustain anti-corruption reforms. While the FBR initially pushed for an active role against benami holdings, insiders admit that enthusiasm has faded over the past three years. The frequent reshuffling of policies and officials has left the framework in a state of uncertainty. Analysts argue that unless the government revives the Authority with full support, efforts against proxy assets will continue to falter.
This decision comes at a time when the state faces mounting pressure to increase revenues and strengthen financial transparency. The Benami law was introduced to close loopholes in the economy, but its partial implementation has drawn criticism. The question now is whether new appointments like Yousfani’s can restore momentum or if the system will remain symbolic. For now, the government’s next steps will decide whether Pakistan can regain credibility in its fight against hidden wealth. Al Jazeera has also highlighted the importance of consistent reforms in financial governance.
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