KARACHI: Chief Collector Enforcement South Saifuddin Junejo has transferred Superintendent Iftikhar Hasan from MCC Preventive Karachi to MCC JIAP, a move that would adversely impact the anti-smuggling drive underway.
It may be mentioned here that Chief Collectors were given the powers to transfer officials and officers ranging BS01 to BS-19, and soon after Chief Collector Junejo transferred the backbone of Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive.
“This is the worst transfer order, which would hurt the anti-smuggling campaign launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan,” an official said adding Iftikhar Hasan is a highly reputed officer and had been spearheading the anti-smuggling campaign.
In 2020 alone, Iftikhar Hasan affected seizures of goods worth Rs9.0 billion, which is a record in the history of Pakistan Customs.
Hasan detected and curbed replacement of transit goods, seized smuggled cigarettes, which was also a record seizure of smuggled cigarettes. Hasan also detected misuse of green channel facility, which was causing huge loss to the national exchequer.
Import and clearance of high value goods in the garb of used clothing, recovery of smuggled tyres, recovery of smuggled cloth from the markets and warehouses in Tariq Road, Jodia Bazar, Jama Cloth market to name a few achievements; Iftikhar Hasan also faced threats and attempts by unscrupulous elements.
After such remarkable performance, he was transferred by Chief Collector Junejo, who himself is set to retire in April 2021.
Sources said the transfer order did not seem fair play adding Collector Preventive Saquif Saeed, Additional Collector Haroon Malik sustained extreme pressure, but they did not transferred Superintendent Iftikhar Hasan. Sources said pressure came from politicians and even from establishment.
Departure of Iftikhar Hasan would adversely impact the performance of MCC Preventive Karachi and hurt the morale of ASO.