General Aamer Raza assumes command of National Str…

  Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) leader and Senior Minister of Punjab, Maryam Aurangzeb, strongly rejected allegations of election rigging made by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), questioning the credibility of such claims by pointing to the PPP’s own government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, Maryam Aurangzeb said that the PPP’s accusations of electoral fraud were baseless and contradictory. Referring to PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari’s remarks, she said it was unreasonable to claim widespread rigging on the basis of only two ballot papers when the election involved thousands of votes. According to her, isolated incidents cannot be used to undermine the credibility of an entire electoral process. She further argued that since the Pakistan Peoples Party is in power in Azad Kashmir, its allegations of election manipulation effectively amount to accusing its own administration of wrongdoing. “If you insist that rigging took place in Azad Kashmir, then you are accusing your own government of conducting fraudulent elections,” she remarked. Aurangzeb added that the people of both Punjab and Azad Kashmir had exercised their democratic right and chosen not to vote for the PPP, and that the party should accept the public verdict instead of making unfounded allegations. Maryam Aurangzeb also criticized the timing of the PPP’s accusations, noting that claims of rigging were being made as soon as polling began. She argued that elections are won through the support of voters, not through repeated allegations. “You do not win elections by making accusations; you win them by earning the trust and votes of the people,” she said. Addressing another issue, Aurangzeb questioned attempts to politicize a recent death, stating that the deceased had not died from gunfire. She asked whether political opponents now intended to use even such incidents for political gain, criticizing what she described as the exploitation of sensitive matters for electoral purposes. Turning her attention to governance, Aurangzeb said the Pakistan Peoples Party should focus on improving its performance in Sindh, where it has governed for years. She argued that better governance would provide meaningful relief to the people of the province. Drawing an analogy, she said that if a student fails to prepare for an examination, they cannot simply lock the examination hall. In the same way, she suggested that political parties cannot blame the electoral process when they fail to secure public support. Aurangzeb maintained that the Pakistan Muslim League (N) had earned the confidence of the electorate through its performance and public service. She expressed surprise that the PPP was repeatedly raising issues related to gunfire and election rigging, saying such rhetoric reflected an unwillingness to accept the democratic outcome. She also referred to a speech delivered by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari the previous day, questioning the tone and substance of his remarks. According to Aurangzeb, the PPP should respect the will of the voters rather than challenging the legitimacy of the election without sufficient evidence. Concluding her remarks, Maryam Aurangzeb emphasized that Pakistan’s electoral system provides legal mechanisms for addressing disputes. She said that if the PPP genuinely believes irregularities occurred, it should present its evidence before the Election Commission or the relevant election tribunals. Instead of complaining publicly, she urged the party to pursue the appropriate legal channels. She concluded by saying that the PPP’s own voters had rejected its narrative and that the party should contest elections through democratic means while respecting the mandate given by the people.

  ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has suspended 211 senior officials and removed another 32 officers from key positions over integrity concerns during the past two years, according to official figures. The move is part of a comprehensive accountability campaign aimed at eliminating corruption, improving transparency, and restoring public confidence in the country’s tax administration. The disciplinary actions, covering the period from August 2024 to mid-2026, represent one of the largest internal crackdowns in the history of the FBR. The institution, responsible for collecting taxes and customs duties, has often faced criticism over allegations of corruption, misuse of authority, and lack of accountability. According to the official data, 211 officers belonging to grades 16 to 21 of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS), the FBR’s domestic tax collection wing, were suspended during the two-year period. Officials noted that previous annual averages for suspensions stood at around 33 cases, highlighting the significant increase in disciplinary measures under the current leadership. The number of major penalties imposed on officers also showed a steady rise. Cases increased from 38 during the 2023-24 fiscal year to 49 in 2024-25, before reaching 75 in 2025-26. Authorities say the increase reflects stricter monitoring and a stronger commitment to enforcing accountability rather than a rise in misconduct alone. In addition to suspensions, the FBR identified 32 officers as being of “questionable integrity” by April 2026. These included 14 officials from the Inland Revenue Service and 18 from Pakistan Customs. Most of the officers held senior positions in grade 20 or above and were removed from operational assignments to ensure greater transparency in tax administration. The accountability drive has coincided with investigations by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which has arrested several senior tax and customs officials in separate corruption-related cases. These actions have reinforced the government’s broader efforts to strengthen oversight and address misconduct within public institutions. Official figures indicate a significant improvement in integrity levels among officers serving in sensitive positions. In the Inland Revenue Service, the proportion of officers considered to have low integrity dropped from 74 percent in July 2023 to just 11 percent by June 2026. Similarly, in Pakistan Customs, the figure declined from 71 percent to 9 percent over the same period. The FBR has also tightened its promotion process by introducing more rigorous screening measures. The number of officials placed on a performance watch list increased from around 2 percent in 2023 to nearly 40 percent by 2025, reflecting greater emphasis on ethical conduct, financial transparency, and professional performance. Officials say these reforms are part of a long-term institutional strategy rather than isolated disciplinary actions. Regular peer-review mechanisms have achieved completion rates of more than 97 percent, demonstrating improved compliance with internal evaluation procedures. As part of its modernization efforts, the FBR has also introduced a faceless income tax assessment system designed to reduce direct interaction between taxpayers and tax officials, thereby minimizing opportunities for corruption. Additionally, the board has implemented an integrity-based rating system that ranks officers from “A” to “D” based on their ethical standards and professional conduct. By June 2026, officers rated “A” or “B” occupied nearly 90 percent of critical positions in both Inland Revenue and Customs departments. Officials believe these reforms will help improve tax collection, strengthen governance, enhance investor confidence, and support Pakistan’s ongoing fiscal reform agenda.