Vehicles’ records: ‘Excise department involved in fake registration’
Official says terrorists might be involved in the exercise.
ISLAMABAD:
The Excise and Taxation Office Islamabad is allegedly involved in fake registration of vehicles which might aid terrorists.
An official source requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune that citizens’ addresses and fake affidavits have been used to get registration numbers from the Excise and Taxation Office (ETO) Islamabad.
“One has to produce evidence of one’s residence in the federal capital to get a vehicle registered in Islamabad,” he said, adding that earlier the rules were relaxed but the recent wave of terrorism forced the administration to take strict measures.
He said that the authorities are very concerned about this matter as terrorists could benefit by using vehicles bearing registration numbers issued in Islamabad. The source said that the ETO has registered vehicles from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir against fake affidavits and addresses. “It is being said that the ETO’s officials are involved in this malpractice,” he said.
He said that according to the current policy, one cannot get a registration number from the ETO unless the addressee confirms one’s presence on the address. “Thus, without the involvement of an ETO official this is not possible,” he said.
The official said that the SW and SY series have been registered on fake documents. He also said that it is believed that some affidavit sellers and oath commissioners are also involved in the practice.
The source said it is feared that terrorists might also be involved in the matter as vehicles bearing numbers issued elsewhere are strictly checked at entry points to the capital. The source said an inquiry has been launched into the matter.
Commenting on the issue, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Aamir Ali Ahmed also said that an inquiry is being conducted while a case has been detected. He said that whenever a fake registration book is detected, officers are bound to cancel it and same was done in this particular case.
“Our system is foolproof and is designed to avoid such irregularities. There will not be any compromise,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2011.
The Excise and Taxation Office Islamabad is allegedly involved in fake registration of vehicles which might aid terrorists.
An official source requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune that citizens’ addresses and fake affidavits have been used to get registration numbers from the Excise and Taxation Office (ETO) Islamabad.
“One has to produce evidence of one’s residence in the federal capital to get a vehicle registered in Islamabad,” he said, adding that earlier the rules were relaxed but the recent wave of terrorism forced the administration to take strict measures.
He said that the authorities are very concerned about this matter as terrorists could benefit by using vehicles bearing registration numbers issued in Islamabad. The source said that the ETO has registered vehicles from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir against fake affidavits and addresses. “It is being said that the ETO’s officials are involved in this malpractice,” he said.
He said that according to the current policy, one cannot get a registration number from the ETO unless the addressee confirms one’s presence on the address. “Thus, without the involvement of an ETO official this is not possible,” he said.
The official said that the SW and SY series have been registered on fake documents. He also said that it is believed that some affidavit sellers and oath commissioners are also involved in the practice.
The source said it is feared that terrorists might also be involved in the matter as vehicles bearing numbers issued elsewhere are strictly checked at entry points to the capital. The source said an inquiry has been launched into the matter.
Commenting on the issue, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Aamir Ali Ahmed also said that an inquiry is being conducted while a case has been detected. He said that whenever a fake registration book is detected, officers are bound to cancel it and same was done in this particular case.
“Our system is foolproof and is designed to avoid such irregularities. There will not be any compromise,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2011.