Customs intelligence team arrives at Bol TV’s office

Team was met with heavy chanting and protests when they arrived at Bol offices in Karachi

KARACHI: A customs intelligence team arrived at Bol TV’s headquarters in Karachi on Friday as investigation into the Axact scam continues, Express News reported.

According to reports, the television channel was served a notice by the intelligence team four days ago to hand over their equipment. The investigation team comprises six to seven officers. The director of the customs team says they have a legal notice with them to carry out the investigation As of now, the customs officials are questioning employees of the television channel.

Read: Equipment at Bol TV ‘imported illegally’

The team was met with heavy chanting and protests when they arrived at the scene.

Earlier on Monday, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) sent a notice to Axact and Bol Group CEO Shoaib Shaikh to explain the illegal import of equipment and gadgets installed at the Bol headquarters in Karachi.

The notice served under Section 26 of the Customs Act 1969 states that a credible source had informed the FBR’s Intelligence and Investigation Directorate about the import of equipment by Bol Group through unauthorised routes without payment of taxes and duties.

The goods and gadgets were said to be installed on the 7th (Production Control Room and Studios) and 9th floor (Central Engineering Room and Master Control Room) inside the Bol building located on Karachi’s Korangi Creek Road.

Read: Ensuring transparency: Curbs ordered on Bol TV transmission

A formal inquiry has been initiated to confirm the veracity of the information.

The FBR has ordered Shoaib Shaikh to prove within three days the genuineness and legality of the installed equipment. The board has also sought the invoice, packing list and freight bills of the imported goods.