KARACHI: Appraising and other staff members protested against harsh attitude of senior officers of Appraisement South on Friday evening. They came out of their offices and chanted slogans against senior officials but called off their strike after few hours. On Saturday morning, appraisers and other staff members once again started their protest and stopped working and demanded FBR high-ups to fulfill their demands.
Sources said that an appraiser of Appraisement South on condition of anonymity said that lots of new “unlawful” rules are imposed and all staff members are fed up by the harsh attitude adopted by Additional Collector Yasin Murtaza. Actually he is doing all this on his own but using name of senior most official of Appraisement South.
Sources further told Customs Today that first of all a notification was issued on 24 September, 2017 in which all staff members were barred from keeping their mobile numbers along in the offices. These orders were initially issued to avoid talking with importers and agents during official timings but due to this we cannot even talk to our family members.
Sources told that we all know that who is behind the illogical transfers and postings. It is Additional Collector Yasin Murtaza who wants to bring his handpicked persons.
On the other hand, Appraisers further said that only verbal orders were being issued from Appraisement South and it was asked to clear 90 percent of GDs without proper examination but appraisers refused to obey these orders and said that they will not clear the GDs without checking the complete documents.
Sources told that on will of Murtaza Yasin, senior officials are visiting different departments on daily basis, and even exchanged hot words against Appraisement Officer Ajfar Noor and ordered Deputy Collector to transfer Ajfar Noor to law branch. Sources told that Ajfar was performing his duties in GDs section.
Sources told that earlier senior most official of Appraisement South visited the office of Assistant Collector Abeer Javed and directed to remove curtains of windows. He also used harsh language against her. Sources told that they are hundred per cent sure that after this incident disciplinary action will be taken against Abeer Javed. She will also face suspension from service. Sources told that Yasin Murtaza is solely responsible for the current situation as he wanted to bring his own persons of choice on desired places.
Sources told that all appraisers are determined that they will never bow down before such officials. Appraisers were used to work till 9-10pm daily but after announcement of their protest they will work short by 6-7 hours which will slow down or completely halt the clearance process and inflict huge losses on importers and business community.
Sources said that appraisers will observe sit-in in the evening daily till settlement of issues with higher authorities. Businesses will suffer losses of billions of rupees if this issue is not resolved on priority basis. Due to prolonged strike, clearance of consignments at Ports will be delayed and importers will not be able to supply their goods in the market. Ultimately they will lose their orders and suffer huge losses.
When this correspondent tried to contact Murtaza Yasin to get his point of view he willfully denied to response.
