KARACHI: The Customs Collectorate of Appraisement East, Customs House, has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against removal of a pay-order worth Rs 2.043 million and has started investigations in this regard.
The complainant, Muhammad Saleem Khan, Appraising Officer at Research and Development Section, Appraisement East, Customs House, Karachi had filed the FIR against a bank employee, Muhammad Yousuf, and an importer. For whose benefit the missing pay order was utilized is to be determined.
Muhammad Yousuf is a Grade-III officer at the National Bank of Pakistan, Karachi, and is resident of House No:77, Chaila Ram Compound, Nishter Road, Garden West, Karachi.
According to the FIR, the Pay Order No:3176009 dated 03/02/2014 amounting to Rs 2.043 million was issued by Standard Chartered Bank, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi, was deposited against GD of unauthorized importer(s) illegally.
Muhammad Yousuf had allegedly removed the pay order from Securities Section of the collectorate.
The FIR stated that M/s Progressive Engineers imported a consignment of ‘split solar air conditioners’ vide GD No KAPE-HC-60974-13-01-2014 and claimed benefit of SRO 575(I)/2006 dated 05/06/2006.
As per the FIR, the collectorate could not decide the matter of admissibility of the SRO and referred the matter to the board. The consignment was released provisionally against submission of a Pay Order No3176009 dated 03/02/2014.
The FIR said that provisional assessment was finalized against the importer, the said pay order was required to be enchased online to enable the importer to get adjustment of input Sales Tax paid at the import stage.
However, the FIR further said that the mentioned pay order was encashed to National Bank of Pakistan, Nadir House Branch, Karachi on 26/09/2014. The NBP through their letter No: NHB/OPS.MANG/202 dated 23/03/2017 conveyed that same pay order was received from the counter of accused Muhammad Yousuf, Officer Grade-III, NBP, Karachi.
The FIR added that accused was asked to clarify his position from time to time but he intentionally avoided to attend preliminary investigation.
According to Muhammad Saleem Khan, violation of Sections 32A of the Customs Act, 1969, punishable under clause 14A of Section 156(I) of the customs Act, 1969, have been reported in this case.
