ISLAMABAD: Ali Asad, Assistant Collector, Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad seized 1000-year-old antiques priced at millions of rupees and arrested a dual nationality holder.
According to details given by Ali Asad that, on a tip-off provided by Dr. Saeed Khan Jadoon, Collector Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) Islamabad, the vigilance was intensified at the airport departure lounge and boarding.
The Assistant Collector said a passenger named Azeez Ullah Shirin, having a dual nationality of Afghanistan and Danmark, was traveling on flight TK-711 and cleared all the three departure stages including ASF, ANF and Pakistan Customs. He told CT that antiques include two small Islamic era coins, 120 Islamic copper coins, 113 Mogul stone silvers, 130 Irani coins of 400 AD, 38 Nadir Shah’s era coins, 60 early Islamic time coins, 58 iron copper coins and 10 Greek coins of 2200-year old.
Telling about further details of confiscated antiques, Ali Asad notified the correspondent that other impounded items include 28 coins of Muhammad Ghazni era, 106 Greek copper coins of 2100-year old, 92 of Kushan Copper coins of 1400-year old, 120 copper coins of Islamic era of 700-year old, four medals of British period, four Necklaces of Beeds, 15 stone slaps, two Kuficicription of 80 AD, one stone bowl of six AD, one pedestal bowl of Mogul period, two grinding parts with pestle of 90-year old, small statue antique, 130 Irani coins of 400 AD, one pipe with dektration of 80-year old, counterfeits of neck collar and rings.
The Assistant Collector informed CT that if these antiques had not been timely intercepted, it would have caused the country’s heritage a great loss.