KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) has suspended the transfer order of Inspector Syed Momin Hussain Shah from MCC Hyderabad to MCC Exports, Karachi dated February 11, 2020.
The counsel of Momin Hussain Shah had submitted before the court that Inspector Momin remained suspended, but he was transferred, which is not permissible under the law.
It may be mentioned here Chief Collector Saifuddin Junejo had ordered transfer of Momin Hussain Shah
Inspector Momin Shah had been suspended because of the influence of Saifuddin Junejo. Sources said Inspector Momin had information that certain smuggled goods would be transported in a government vehicle.
Subsequently, Momin stopped a government number vehicle for checking, but that government number vehicle was not transporting smuggled goods. In fact, Saifuddin Junejo was moving in that vehicle.
Getting aware of the situation, Momin explained to Junejo the reason for stopping his car and Junejo’s car was let go.
However, Junejo took it as an insult and pulled some strings and got Momin hussain Shah suspended based on a fake complaint.
Junejo also transferred Superintendent Iftikhar Hasan from ASO Preventive to MCC JIAP. Iftikhar Hasan is a highly reputed officer and had been spearheading the anti-smuggling campaign.
With his transfer from ASO Preventive to JIAP adversely affected the anti-smuggling drive. There have been no cases made by ASO Preventive after the transfer of Iftikhar Hasan.
Chief Collector Saifuddin Junejo has been a controversial officer and it is said that Junejo is lenient towards smugglers.
During his tenure as Collector MCC Exports, Saifuddin Junejo ended the mandatory requirement of tracker on containers and trailers in Export Processing Zone (EPZ) saying it was inter port movement and tracker not needed.
This decision was widely criticized by Custom formations as it resulted in replacement of cargo during movement in EPZ and pilferage of high value goods into the tariff area causing huge revenue loss to the national exchequer.
Moreover, while Junejo was Collector Exports, high value goods were removed from EPZ to tariff area on garbage dumpers hidden under garbage. Garbage dumpers stuffed 80 percent by various goods and covered with 20 percent trash freely operated in and out of EPZ.
In another questionable move, Saifuddin Junejo ordered release of a consignment of smuggled blankets seized by ASO Preventive. ASO Preventive had seized a consignment of blankets, but Chief Collector Saifuddin Junejo ordered release of the goods while the Collector Preventive Saquif Saeed was on leave.
Further, Chief collector Junejo received an information regarding presence of large quantity of Indian goods at warehouses in Umerkot, but the raid couldn’t be made in time, information was leaked, and goods were removed and warehouses were found empty. Few days later I&I Hyderabad recovered Rs1.5 billion worth of Indian goods from the same place.