Crackdown: ‘ASF, customs men abet in gold smuggling’

FIA Punjab’s director says white-collar, not street crime is causing major loss.

LAHORE: Director FIA Punjab, Zafar Ahmad Qureshi has said that smuggling of gold worth billions of rupees to other countries was shattering the foundations of the economy. He said this was occurring with the connivance of Airport Security Force, Customs and airlines officials deputed at international airports.

He said that he has constituted a team of investigators to look into the smuggling of about 230 kilogrammes of gold to various countries which surfaced during investigations of a case registered in the past wherein 28.361 kilogram of gold was seized by the FIA from the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore.

He said that FIA will take stern action against swindlers involved in committing fraud through short messaging service (SMS), against white collar crimes and against government employees involved in corruption. He said that vigilance has been ensured at all airports as well as check posts across Punjab to stop gold smuggling.

He was of the view that majority of the people making hue and cry over street crimes do not know that the real loss caused to the national exchequer was due to white-collar crimes in the country.

He ruled out the impression that Ayaz Niazi was being tortured and said that he was being interrogated under law and no ‘third-degree’ method was being applied during investigations. “If I am awake at night to investigate, then the accused will have to wake up to reply to my questions,” he maintained. Qureshi said that 11 accused of NICL have been arrested and mind-boggling disclosures are expected during the investigation of Niazi.

The FIA has busted two gangs involved in human trafficking; later torturing and seeking ransom from their family members, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2010.