He suggested involving the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Senator Faisal Vawda has claimed that he received death threats from three Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) officers.
According to Vawda, the threats came after he questioned the transparency of a massive vehicle procurement plan.
The allegations emerged during a Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue meeting, where Vawda demanded a high-level inquiry into the threats.
Committee chairman Senator Saleem Mandviwalla backed his concerns, revealing that he also received similar messages.
The controversy centres around the FBR’s plan to purchase 1,010 vehicles worth Rs. 6 billion (£1.7 billion) for operational purposes.
On January 23, 2025, the committee directed the FBR to halt the procurement over concerns about the process’ fairness.
Vawda questioned why a letter of intent for the purchase was issued on the same day the committee sent a letter to the FBR.
He had raised his suspicions of a pre-arranged deal.
Faisal Vawda also pointed out that while the contract was awarded to one company, a raid was conducted on another.
This further raised doubts about the procurement’s legitimacy.
The committee has decided to escalate the matter, planning to write to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb.
They will demand the official suspension of the vehicle purchase.
The absence of senior FBR officials, including the chairman and board members, from the recent meeting only intensified lawmakers’ frustrations.
The only representative present, the chief administrator, defended the procurement.
He argued that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved the process months ago, following market surveys and committee approvals.
During the meeting, Faisal Vawda insisted that the threats against him should be treated as a criminal matter.
He suggested involving the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Senator Farooq H Naek supported this move, arguing that the threats needed to be exposed and thoroughly investigated.
In response, FBR Chairman Rashid Langrial assured the committee that the allegations would not be ignored.
He expressed concern for his own safety and agreed that an independent investigation was necessary.
He offered to provide a full report or allow another official to oversee the inquiry.
Beyond the threats, lawmakers raised concerns about the procurement process itself.
Senator Shibli Faraz criticised the lack of competitive bidding, calling it a criminal offence that needed immediate investigation.
Langrial assured the committee that the vehicle purchase would remain on hold until all concerns were addressed.
He also clarified that prior approval from the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) was not legally required.
However, Langrial stated that the process should have been reviewed by its board.
The controversy has now escalated into a broader debate on accountability and transparency within the FBR.
Lawmakers are calling for stricter oversight as the tax authority struggles to meet revenue collection targets for the fiscal year 2025.
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