Islamabad :The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has removed Syed Ali Shah, Preventive Officer (BS-16), Collectorate of Customs Airports Karachi, from government service on grounds of misconduct due to willful and unauthorized absence from duty, as he was granted ex-Pakistan leave for 30 days from 22 February to 23 March 2025 to visit Australia, but failed to return upon expiry of leave and did not request any extension despite issuance of explanation letters dated 8 April and 11 April 2025, leading to disciplinary proceedings under Rule-7 read with Rule-6 of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020 without holding a formal inquiry, and a Show Cause Notice dated 7 May 2025 was served under Rule-3(b) on the charge of “Misconduct”, to which the officer responded on 5 June 2025 citing his wife’s illness as the reason for not returning and assured to rejoin on 23 June 2025, but failed to honor his undertaking, after which he was granted a personal hearing on 8 July 2025 via Zoom before the Member (Admin/HR), where both the officer and the Departmental Representative, Ms. Sakeena (Deputy Collector), appeared, and the officer admitted his absence from 24 March 2025 onward attributing it to his wife’s serious health condition in Australia but failed to provide any documentary proof or medical records, yet the authority gave him a final opportunity to rejoin duties within 10 days, which he declined, instead submitting another application received on 8 July 2025 proposing to rejoin conditionally on 23 September 2025 depending on circumstances, thereby showing disinterest in continuing government service, leading to the conclusion that the charge of misconduct stood conclusively proven, and the Member (Admin/HR), FBR, as the competent Authority under Rule-2(1)(c), imposed the major penalty of “Removal from Service” under Rule-4(3)(d), with the entire period of absence from 24 March 2025 to date treated as extraordinary leave without pay under Rule 9(3) of the Revised Leave Rules, 1980 read with Rule 5(4) of the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020, and the officer retains the right to appeal this order to the Appellate Authority within 30 days under the Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977
