LAHORE: President of Jinnah Lawyers Association Imran Bhutta has announced to file a petition in the Lahore High Court against ‘illegal’ alleged appointment of Indian citizens at Qasim International Containers Terminal (QICT) Karachi.
While talking to Customs Today, senior lawyer Lahore High Court and president (JLA) Imran Bhutta who is also a foreign qualified legal expert, said that Indians are allegedly working unlawfully at Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) without the issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) which might be a national security risk. He said that he will move the court against their presence at such a sensitive place of Pakistan.
He said that law enforcement agencies must hold the license of M/s QICT due to its operations without clearance of MOI. He said DP World Group owned almost 75% shares of M/s QICT and appointed Indian officials at key posts at DP World Karachi who are operating Pakistan strategic ports, posing threat to national security of Pakistan.
Talking with Customs Today, Imran Bhutta expressed shock at the presence of Indians working at key posts at the QICT. Indian involvement could also be seen in increasing irregularities at the QICT where importers based in Pakistan got frustrated due to demands of extra demurrage & detention charges, the advocate added.
He further said that the Interior Ministry should immediately start prob against the presence of Indian officials at QICT in any shape in order to safeguard the national economy & security.
He said in order to secure national security, the government should ensure proper clearance by Ministry of Information because these Indian nationals could get information like in and out movement at the port which could be made possible only if people like Rizwan Sultanali Soomar, chairman and director of M/s DP World Karachi and Devang Mankodi a Director at DP World Karachi, are allowed to control Pakistani ports.
