KARACHI: MCC Preventive has lodged an FIR against certain accused including an official of Airport Security Force (ASF) for smuggling mobile phones, thus causing loss to national exchequer.

According to details of the case, an inspector of ASF namely Gulistan Anjum posted at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) appeared before the staff of Pakistan Customs with the custody of a person namely Khawar Shahzad Ansari along with assorted mobile phones, which ASF staff had recovered from the search of said passenger.

Khawar Shahzad had failed to justify the lawful possession of said mobile phones, he was detained and handed over to Pakistan Customs for further investigation. Preventive Officer Asfandyar has been appointed as the inquiry officer of the case.

Khawar Shahzad informed that he was the driver of one Babar Azad, who called him on his arrival from Dubai and passed on a cell phone with instructions to call on a number and collect some goods from the person he was advised to call.

Khawar contacted on the given number, which belonged to an ASF official identified as Shahbaz, who gave him 12 mobile phones. However, Khawar was intercepted by the ASF staff and mobile phones were recovered from his possession. The accused ASF official Shahbaz is absconding.

It is established that Khawar Shahzad Ansari and ASF official Shahbaz acted as an abettor in the crime and facilitated the smuggling of mobile phones. The prime accused Babar Azad is also absconding. Khawar Shahzad is arrested while the mobile phones worth Rs1.0 million have been seized. FIR has been lodged and investigations are underway.