KARACHI: The investigation team of the Directorate General of Transit Trade inquiring into the pilferage of US Army, ISAF and NATO cargo headed by Deputy Director Shoaib Raza has been disbanded due to the poor performance of the officers.
Simultaneously, a new team has been re-constituted by the Director General Khawar Farid Maneka to start the enquiry afresh into the pilferage case. The new team will be headed by a seasoned campaigner Deputy Director Fazal Dad.
A first Information Report has also been registered against the bonded carriers, freight forwarders, transporters and the drivers. Bonded carriers and freight forwarders are still absconding, while the remaining arrested persons are in judicial lockup.
Sources close to the Transit Trade department hinted that the new team has started its working and there was likelihood that the investigators would soon lead to meaningful results.
These sources also disclosed that the stolen property comprising of generators were unloaded at Tarnal, a known place near Islamabad.
They revealed “Interestingly a huge market consisting hundreds of shops spread over an area of about 2-3kilometres is flourishing right under the noose of FBR where NATO/ISAF non-military goods and other non-duty paid heavy machinery is being freely sold and purchased without any fear of interference from of the Directorate General of Intelligence and Model Customs Collectorate, Rawalpindi as hardly any action has been taken in the recent past.”
Experts here were of the view that if a regular check was kept on such mafia markets where open sale and purchase of stolen and smuggled goods were being sold, it would be better in the interest of the country as this phenomena brings a bad name to the departments and the country.
