KARACHI: Abdul Ghaffar Sheikh, Inspector (BS-16) of Customs Department gave his life in the line of duty and yet his family is being denied the due benefits, which are available for the families of Customs officials losing life during active duty.
Sources said there is a set of benefits available for the family of official dying during active duty, while there is even better set of benefits for the family of serving official losing life due to some terrorist or criminal incident. Shaikh was shot in a exchange of fire with smugglers and deserves the honor and benefits for his family accordingly.
Abdul Ghaffar Sheikh was posted as Inspector, Model Customs Collectorate, Hyderabad. On the basis of credible information, a team of anti smuggling squad under the supervision of Additional Collector MCC Hyderabad raided a godown in Town Market Hyderabad and large quantity of smuggled goods were seized.
On being cornered, the smugglers opened fire and Inspector Abdul Ghaffar Sheikh received a bullet in the head which proved fatal and he was pronounced dead in the Hospital. FIR was lodged under the relevant rules of anti-terrorist law and PPC against the smugglers.
Inspector Abdul Ghaffar Shaikh was a dedicated, honest and brave officer who has many remarkable achievements of anti smuggling operations to his credit. He was playing active role in the MCC Hyderabad anti-smuggling drive before his death and his efforts had restricted the smuggling activities in the MCC Hyderabad jurisdiction to a large extent.
The Government of Pakistan wishes to place on record its appreciation of the dedicated services rendered by the deceased Abdul Ghaffar Shaikh.
The Customs officials are serving the country in a very challenging environment having no protection and support against the criminal and unscrupulous elements. In a recent incident, smugglers and criminal elements associated with Sikandar Subhani and Safdar Iqbal etc attacked the residence of one Customs intelligence Lahore official Mian Yaseen leaving the son of Mian Yaseen Mian Mohsin severely wounded.
It is pertinent to mention here that Customs officials are denied treatment at combined Military Hospitals (CMH), as to their understanding Customs officials are not enforcement personnel.