KARACHI: It happens only at Directorate General of Customs Intelligence & Investigations that officials who were imposed with major penalty of dismissal from service for corruption are recommended for performance rewards. On top of that, these dismissed from service officials are given the rewards.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in a notification dated May 08, 2017 imposed Major Penalty of removal from service on Waqar Cheema, Superintendent Directorate of Customs Intelligence Lahore under the charges of inefficiency and misconduct. Similarly, in a notification dated May 08, 2017 imposed Major Penalty of removal from service on Zahid Raza Bokhari, Superintendent Directorate of Customs Intelligence Lahore under the charges of inefficiency and misconduct.
However, both of these officials were granted meritorious service reward equivalent to two basic pays, according to a FBR notification dated June 09, 2017.
Sources said, rampant corruption was prevailing at the Directorate General of Customs Intelligence & Investigation under the alleged blessings of Director General Shaukat Ali. Both of these superintendents are favorites of Director General and his front man Mushtaq Sarghana. Despite their removal from Service in May 2017, both of these officials are using office of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation as well as using the official ID card for their wrongdoings. These officials are allegedly in-charge of bribe collection in their respective former jurisdictions.
Mushtaq Sarghana a retired sepoy of Customs Intelligence & Investigation who is said to be front man of DG Shaukat Ali is calling all the shots and transfers and postings in the Directorate General are carried on his recommendations. Mushtaq Sarghana is a retired sepoy and still he uses government number plate vehicles.
Honest and competent officers/officials are being victimized and transferred to bad postings while corrupt and bad reputed officers/officials are posted at sensitive posts.
Recently, Director Quetta Ashraf Ali was removed contrary to the practice of FBR and was posted in Directorate of Transit Trade. Prior to his trasfner, Ashraf Ali seized two trucks of tyres and a bus of a known smuggler Sadiq. In this connection, Superintendent Mha Rafiq and Inspector Shafiq were issued stern warnings as these were not doing their job, which is supposed to be stopping smuggling.
Sources said smuggled Sadiq supplies smuggled tyres to warehouses in Multan and Faisalabad. These warehouses are owned and operated by Mushtaq Sarghana, who is said to be the front man and business partner of Director General Shaukat Ali. These smuggled tyres are distributed across the Punjab under the protection of Customs Intelligence & Investigation .
PML-N government throughout its tenure remained hard on smuggling and crackdown was launched which practically broke the network. However, for the past few months things have taken a U-turn and smuggling is now being promoted in a organized manner. It is alleged that a close relative of the ruling family is actually promoting this dirty business.