ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a major penalty on a Customs official after finding that his unauthorised absence from duty facilitated the theft of contraband items from a Customs facility at Gadani.
The penalty has been imposed on Raza Rehman, Inspector Customs (BS-16), Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Gadani, following disciplinary proceedings on charges of inefficiency and misconduct under the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020.
An inquiry was initiated against the officer through an Order of Inquiry, Charge Sheet and Statement of Allegations dated February 24, 2026. Muhammad Ahmed Rizwan, Deputy Collector Customs, was appointed as the Inquiry Officer.
In his inquiry report dated April 20, 2026, the Inquiry Officer found the charges of inefficiency and misconduct established and recommended two minor penalties — censure and withholding of increment for two years.
Officer denies involvement in theft
A show-cause notice was subsequently served on Raza Rehman on May 14, 2026. He submitted his reply on June 1, denying the allegations and requesting a personal hearing.
During the hearing held on July 22, 2026, the departmental representative stated that Rehman had been posted as Duty Officer during the Eid holidays on June 6, 2025, and was required to perform duty on a 24/7 basis.
According to the departmental representative, the officer left his duty station without obtaining prior approval from the competent authority.
The department stated that his absence facilitated the theft of hashish, charas, mobile phones and other contraband items, allegedly involving Havaldar Zubair Aziz and private individuals.
The department further informed the hearing that Zubair Aziz, who was directly involved in the theft, had already been dismissed from service and convicted by a court.
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Rehman admitted that his duty was on a 24/7 basis during the Eid holidays but maintained that he had verbally informed Superintendent Syed Ayaz Ali Shah Masoomi before leaving because of his daughter’s sudden illness.
He denied any involvement in or facilitation of the theft and argued that the actual offender had already been identified, convicted and dismissed from service.
FBR says absence facilitated theft
After examining the inquiry report, the record and submissions of the officer and departmental representative, the FBR authority concluded that although Rehman was not directly involved in the theft, his unauthorised absence from duty facilitated the theft of the contraband items.
The authority rejected his claim that he had informed the Superintendent before leaving duty.
According to the order, both Superintendents contradicted this claim during a hearing held on December 19, 2025, stating that Rehman had been assigned to look after their charge but instead left duty after handing over the charge to a Havaldar without authorisation.
The FBR authority consequently found the minor penalties recommended by the Inquiry Officer to be inappropriate.
It held that Rehman deserved the same major penalty imposed on the co-accused Superintendent for the same misconduct.
The Member (Admn/HR) FBR, acting as the competent authority under the Civil Servants (E&D) Rules, 2020, imposed the major penalty of reduction to a lower post and pay scale for one year on Raza Rehman.
The penalty was imposed under Rule 4(3)(b), read with Rule 16(7)(b), of the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules.
The FBR also ordered that the officer’s performance allowance be stopped for one year from the date of the penalty.
The officer retains the right to appeal against the order before the Appellate Authority under the Civil Servants (Appeals) Rules, 1977, within the prescribed period.
