Acting in time: Former forest minister’s brother accused of timber smuggling
Ashiq Hussain denies allegation; calls it political mudslinging.
Former forest minister’s brother accused of timber smuggling. DESIGN: SAMRA AAMIR
MANSEHRA:
Police claimed to have foiled a timber smuggling bid and seized five Datsun vehicles loaded with lumber allegedly belonging to Ashiq Hussain, brother of former provincial minister for forest.
Phulra Police SHO Syed Mubarak Shah said they received an intelligence tip-off that containers will be moved from the forest range of Parhina to Haripur. After which, the police deployed constables in the area and stopped five pickup vehicles near the Chetal Syedan Forest Barrier.
As the pickups approached the police, the suspects opened fire and officials retaliated. The accused were forced to flee, leaving behind the loaded Datsuns. One of the smugglers was caught while trying to escape.
The police seized the timber and arrested Nisar Ali who identified his three of his accomplices as Raheem Shah, Aksar and Arshad. Vehicles were taken to the police station where weighing of the seized timber was underway when this report was filed.
SHO Shah claimed after the police moved the timber to the station, they received a call from a man identifying himself as Ashiq Hussain, younger brother of Quami Watan Party’s MNA and former forest minister, Ibrar Hussain. Shah alleged Ashiq threatened them of dire consequences if they did not release the lumber.
Shah also shared the phone number from which he was allegedly called by Ashiq.
When approached for comments, Ashiq denied the SHO’s claim, calling it a conspiracy against his family and brother by political rivals. “The lobby which supports timber smuggling is spreading these rumours against us,” maintained Ashiq.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.
Police claimed to have foiled a timber smuggling bid and seized five Datsun vehicles loaded with lumber allegedly belonging to Ashiq Hussain, brother of former provincial minister for forest.
Phulra Police SHO Syed Mubarak Shah said they received an intelligence tip-off that containers will be moved from the forest range of Parhina to Haripur. After which, the police deployed constables in the area and stopped five pickup vehicles near the Chetal Syedan Forest Barrier.
As the pickups approached the police, the suspects opened fire and officials retaliated. The accused were forced to flee, leaving behind the loaded Datsuns. One of the smugglers was caught while trying to escape.
The police seized the timber and arrested Nisar Ali who identified his three of his accomplices as Raheem Shah, Aksar and Arshad. Vehicles were taken to the police station where weighing of the seized timber was underway when this report was filed.
SHO Shah claimed after the police moved the timber to the station, they received a call from a man identifying himself as Ashiq Hussain, younger brother of Quami Watan Party’s MNA and former forest minister, Ibrar Hussain. Shah alleged Ashiq threatened them of dire consequences if they did not release the lumber.
Shah also shared the phone number from which he was allegedly called by Ashiq.
When approached for comments, Ashiq denied the SHO’s claim, calling it a conspiracy against his family and brother by political rivals. “The lobby which supports timber smuggling is spreading these rumours against us,” maintained Ashiq.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2013.