KARACHI: The Directorate of Transit Trade has asked the Port Security Force (PSF) Commandant to take action against his personnel who allegedly physically assaulted on-duty officials of the directorate.
Custom officers of Directorate of Transit Trade, Nafees-ud-Din Qureshi and Khurram Rafique, went to the OP-III yard for the examination of a Crane lying there for the customs clearance. The PSF staff posted at gate demanded official identification of Customs which was shown to them. The PSF guards did not accept the official identification and told them to get the entry done in their register.
The Customs officers told the gate staff that the demand to get their particulars entered in register was unwarranted. Resultantly, PSF guards namely Saleem, Yousuf, Incharge Nasim and others crossed allegedly snatched office cards and mobile phones of the customs officials and a physically assaulted them. They also kept the officers under illegal detention for half an hour.
In the complaint to Commandant PSF, Directorate of Transit Trade notes this act is highly objectionable and tantamount to Criminal act.
Section 14A of the Customs Act legally binds port authorities to provide adequate security to the Customs staff in discharge of official duties. This act of the PSF guards attract strict action in terms of Section 156(1) 85 (a) of the Customs Act, 1969.
The senior officers of Customs House have taken a serious view of the situation and have sought a report on the matter. The PSF Commandant has also been asked to take strict action against those involved in this heinous act and submit a report.
