ISLAMABAD: Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Chairman Agha Jan Akhtar has revealed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken disciplinary action against several customs officials over their alleged involvement in the release of containers on fake documents from the port.
Speaking about the functioning of the PQA in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping, Agha Jan said that several customs officials had been found involved in corruption in the past; however, the FBR administration took a strong notice of their activities and initiated disciplinary proceedings against the accused officials and ultimately a number of them were suspended or terminated from services.
On the other hand, a well-informed source confirmed to this scribe that the FBR, in the light of recommendations of a three-member fact-finding committee into missing containers from Port Qasim, had taken measures including disciplinary and criminal proceedings against the officials involved.
The FBR formed a fact-finding committee headed by a BPS-21 officer with two BPS-20 officers as members. On recommendations of the committee, inquiry against a principal officer, three appraising officers and two examining officers had been initiated.
Moreover, in the light of recommendations, specific role of assistant and deputy collectors who remained in-charge of off-dock terminal was being identified for further necessary action.
Senior management of the collectorate had been asked to explain their position with regard to the lapse. The Intelligence and Investigation director general had been asked, as suggested by the committee, to initiate criminal proceedings against the terminal operator.
Furthermore, the audit of all imported containerised commercial cargo discharged at Port Qasim during the last five years has been undertaken by the collectorate.
The Senate’s Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping took up the case of missing containers from Pot Qasim and the matter was discussed in several meeting.
The FBR officials had also been invited to these meetings to explain the nature of crime as well as the updated status of the case. Consequently, the standing committee reiterated its direction regarding immediate referral of the case of missing containers by Ministry of Ports and Shipping to the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA).
Sources said that following directives from the FBR, the FIA’s Corporate Crime Circle Karachi registered the subject inquiry number 35/2014 and requested copies of the record of the case vide its letter dated 20-11-2014.
The detecting agency, Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation in November submitted the requisite record to the FIA, and after investigating information that importer MI Traders Karachi had fraudulently removed dutiable imported goods from PMBQ Karachi against fake goods declaration without payment of duty and taxes, the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation lodged an FIR on August 5, 2013 against the importer.
Later, the scope of investigation was widened and subsequently nine more FIRs were lodged against Fatimi Motors, Karachi; Mian Enterprises Lahore; VA International Lahore; Zafar Sons Karachi; Eve Luck Enterprises Karachi; Unique International Karachi; Xaviar Co Karachi; Sea Gold Corporation and VB International Lahore.
Some 50 containers bearing spare parts were removed between May 2012 and July 2013. In this regard, the Customs Intelligence arrested six people while 12 others obtained interim bail and 10 of them pleaded guilty and paid Rs 18.91 million against 33 containers before the trial court.
The department concerned took more steps after the incident was reported. The customs officers posted at the gate were suspended and charge-sheeted for their lapse.
