ICCI Condemns Arrest Powers for FBR Officers, Announces National Business Convention in Lahore on June 17

Islamabad: In a strongly worded response to a controversial provision in the Federal Budget 2025–26, the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has voiced serious concerns over the federal government’s move to grant arrest powers to officers of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). Addressing a press conference at ICCI headquarters, President Nasir Mansoor Qureshi termed the proposal “a direct assault on Pakistan’s precarious economic fabric” and warned of its adverse impact on business confidence and investment.

Flanked by senior ICCI leadership — including Chairman Founder Group Sheikh Tariq Sadiq, Senior Vice President Abdul Rehman Siddiqui, Vice President Nasir Mehmood Chaudhry, and former Presidents Mian Akram Farid and Shaikh Aamir Waheed — President Qureshi denounced the clause that authorizes FBR officers to arrest CEOs and senior executives without due legal process or judicial oversight.

“This provision threatens to destabilize the already fragile investment climate,” he said. “It undermines the principles of natural justice and sets a dangerous precedent of unchecked executive authority.”

In response, the ICCI announced a National Convention of the Business Community to be held in Lahore on June 17, where representatives from chambers, trade bodies, and industrial associations will gather to chart a collective strategy against what Qureshi called “anti-enterprise and constitutionally questionable policies.”

While reaffirming the business community’s commitment to tax compliance and transparency, Qureshi emphasized that due process and institutional safeguards must not be compromised. He advocated for the use of the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism as a fairer and more effective route for resolving tax disputes.

“The business community is not against accountability,” he stated, “but we demand justice, transparency, and constitutional protections.”

The ICCI president urged the Prime Minister, Federal Finance Minister, and Members of Parliament to revoke the contentious clause and initiate meaningful dialogue with the private sector. He warned that failure to do so could lead to a collapse in investor confidence and further economic instability.

Supporting the ICCI stance, several other prominent voices from the business community echoed similar sentiments. Chairman Founder Group Sheikh Tariq Sadiq, former President Mian Akram Farid, and Advisor to the President Naeem Siddiqui all stressed the need for legislative restraint and institutional accountability.

The press conference was attended by a wide spectrum of stakeholders from trade associations, industry, and commerce. Former Executive Member Mian Mohammad Ramzan delivered a detailed policy briefing on the fiscal and legal ramifications of the FBR proposal.

Read more: FBR Tax Collection Soars 30% in April, Exceeds Last Year’s Annual Target

Notable attendees included Executive Members Malik Abdul Aziz, Irfan Chaudhry, Chaudhry Nadeem Ahmed, Sanaullah Khan, Imran Minhas, Malik Mohsin Khalid, Zulqurnain Abbasi, Ishaq Sial, and Ms. Shumaila Siddiqui, all of whom expressed unanimous support for a constitutionally compliant and pro-business tax framework.

The June 17 National Convention in Lahore is expected to serve as a critical forum for formulating the private sector’s unified response to the proposed policy, with calls for widespread legislative advocacy and economic safeguards.