KCAA president Saifullah to be arrested for involvment in bogus cheques scam

KARACHI: Pakistan Customs is finalizing ways to arrest Saifullah Khan, President, Karachi Customs Agents Association, who is involved in a scam of consignment clearance on bogus financial instruments for an importer.
According to details, Saad Corporation, the company owned by Saifullah Khan had cleared a consignment for Khurram Azhar, the importer of PVC Flex Sheet who presented bogus post-dated cheques to the customs authorities.
Pakistan Customs has arrested Khurram Azhar, knowingly and willfully defrauding the public exchequer by furnishing bogus post-dated cheques.
An FIR was lodged against M/S Astrontech PVt Ltd on January 10, 2013 for issuing post dated cheques, which were returned by the bank for being bogus. However, the accused managed to get bail.
Then, the Customs lodged another FIR against M/s Z.A Industries on February 01, 2013 for issuing the bogus instruments.
The interesting aspect is that the arrested Khurram Azhar claimed to be the manager of both companies but it was found that he actually was the owner of both companies.
M/S Astrontech PVt Ltd, the importer of PVC Flex Sheet, during the process of assessment of the consignment furnished post dated cheques and pay order worth Rs5.219 million cumulatively. But when these instruments were forwarded to the bank for encashment and realization of revenue, these were returned by the bank with remarks “date has been revealed/not drawn on us”.
Therefore an FIR was lodged against the importer for violating section 32, 32-A and 192 of Customs Act, 1969 read with section 33 of Sales Tax Act, 1990 and section 148 of Income Ordinance 2001 punishable under clause 1,14,14-A,86,90 and 95A of section 156(I) of the Customs Act 1969 read with clause 11C of section 33 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 and section 148 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.
But the accused managed to get bail. Another FIR was lodged against M/S Z.A Industries for furnishing post dated cheques and pay orders of a total amount of Rs8.214 million as part and parcel of their statement/declarations made before customs in terms of section 79(I) of the Customs Act 1969.
But when these instruments were forwarded to the banks for encashment, the banks returned the instruments with remarks “date has been revealed/ not drawn on us”.
Therefore, an FIR was lodged against the directors/owner/proprietor of the company for violating section 32, 32-A and 192 of Customs Act, 1969 read with section 33 of Sales Tax Act, 1990 and section 148 of Income Ordinance 2001 punishable under clause 1,14,14-A,86,90 and 95A of section 156(I) of the Customs Act 1969 read with clause 11C of section 33 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 and section 148 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.
Meanwhile, the accused Khurram Azhar filed an application before the court of Special Judge (Customs & Taxation) as on March 04, 2013 submitting that the investigating officer had deliberately failed to submit the challan of the matter within a period provided under the law.
Customs sources said that the officials are set to include the name of Saifullah Khan in the challan and subsequently arrest him to present before the court.