MULTAN: Supreme Court of Pakistan should provide fool proof security to witnesses to ensure safety and seize all relevant records pertaining to misuse of green channel for fair trial. It was demanded by former General Secretary of Multan Tax Bar Association Muhammad Imran Ghazi.
He expressed that business community of whole country including South Punjab is suffering from widespread corruption of some customs staff. He said that law enforcement agencies in Pakistan failed to take any action against corrupt elements who are involved in an organized crime which encourages dishonest people in the country.
He said that if government provides security to witnesses who are willing to give assistance to Supreme Court of Pakistan in probing misuse of Green Channel facility then this effort will be highly appreciated. Being a lawyer he felt that there were few cases in which accused had been awarded imprisonment or any penalty due to weak prosecution system and poor investigations of customs department.
He appreciated Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar for taking notice against billions of corruption through illegal clearances of shipments from green channel facility. After shocking revelation of misuse of Green Channel facility, genuine importers are facing severe issues in the clearance of their legitimate import shipments due to gluttonous staff of customs.
Now customs department has adopted measures for genuine importers to satisfy their high ups and they are trying to satisfy their high ups. It is very difficult for honest and genuine importers to clear their shipments due to strict checking and examination procedure adopted with genuine importers and it is causing unnecessary delay in the clearance of their shipments. Business community wondered that action against corrupt officials of Customs is originating delay in clearance of their shipments and they are delivering message to importers that they should stay away from investigation in mega corruption cases, he added.
If customs department had taken any serious action against corruption of Principal Appraiser Dost Muhammad and his allies, then Supreme Court could not have interfered in this matter.
It is almost impossible to take action against corrupt customs officials in this intense atmosphere created by corrupt elements in the society and Supreme Court should take special measures in this regard for fair trial where witnesses should present themselves for submitting records.
Pakistan is already facing law and order situation and witnesses will be soft target for corrupt mafia and it is also responsibility of our law enforcement agencies to protect them.
He demanded that Supreme Court of Pakistan should give clear directions to seize all relevant records related to misuse of Green Channel facility to avoid any forgery from corrupt mafia.
