ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take action against those involved in siphoning off billions of rupees in taxes in connivance with customs officials by hijacking containers transporting goods to Nato forces.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, which is hearing a suo motu case on ‘missing’ NATO containers, ordered the FBR chairman, Salman Siddiqui, to submit a compliance report pertaining to the action taken against officials involved in smuggling by today (Thursday).
The court has also asked for a list of the names of officials who served between January 1, 2007, and December 24, 2010 – which include members customs, FBR chairman, collectors, secretaries of trade and finance, directors-general of customs intelligence and directors-general of the National Logistics Cell.
During Wednesday’s proceedings, the Federal Tax Ombudsman presented a report to the bench which corroborated a story by Dunya TV on the smuggling of liquor and arms in official containers. The containers are specially designated to transport food and other essential items for Nato and Isaf forces stationed in Afghanistan by land through Pakistan.
“The national exchequer was deprived of Rs37 billion according to this report. As 11,000 Nato containers went missing, it is entirely possible that the loss was far greater,” the Chief Justice observed. “God knows what else is smuggled besides alcohol and ammunition in the name of Afghan trade.”
The country is flooded with smuggled goods, which is destroying the economy, he remarked. The damning report also reveals the names of people for whom the containers were booked and points to those responsible.
“Once those responsible are arrested, we will learn the rest of the story,” said Justice Ramday.
“We expect the FBR chairman to take prompt action” the Chief Justice remarked. The case has been adjourned till January 27, while notices have been issued to officials of Customs Intelligence, Karachi Port and Port Qasim Authority, among others.
Siddiqui appeared before the bench and requested for amendments in the laws of the federal ombudsman. The chief justice instructed him to first take action against those involved in the smuggling and said the amendments could follow.
Compliance: FBR compiles list of 34 officers
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has prepared a list of its 34 officers, including an FBR chairman and collector customs, posted from January 1, 2007 to December 24, 2010, in connection with the case of 7,000 containers’ disappearance as ordered by the Supreme Court. Sources in the FBR said the list, finalised till late at night on Wednesday, is to be submitted to the apex court on Thursday.
Names of former FBR chairman Sohail Ahmed, Member Customs Muneer Qureshi, former collector Karachi Port, former collector Port Qasim, former collector Peshawar, and former director general Customs Intelligence & Investigation feature in the list.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2011.
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