KARACHI: Syed Asif Bukhari, a Karachi based lawyer who also appears before the Special Customs, Excise and Taxation Court, Karachi has hurled allegation against the Presiding Officer/Judge of the Special Customs Court.
In a letter addressed to the Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue titled “Corruption by SPL Judge (Customs) Karachi”, the complainant stated that she is killing the cases of Pakistan Customs obliging the accused persons. It was alleged that trial court judge is acquitting the accused involved in evasion of custom duty, taxes and other levies to the tune of millions of rupees finding lacunas in the orders passed by hierarchy of Pakistan Customs including Collector Adjudication.
The letter also names former Collector Adjudication Asif Marghoob Siddique and Iqbal Bharwana as corruption officers. The complainant maintains that acquittal was against the law. It was also alleged that Investigating Officers (IO’s) and Special Prosecutor appointed by Pakistan Customs are also involved in the “entire game”. The complainant names Mr Asif Ali Advocate husband of the Presiding Officer as “facilitator” and accuses that an alleged smuggler Zubair Gheewala was acquitted in different cases under a deal struck between Mr Asif and Advocate Zain Jatoi.
The custom officer are in league and no appeal appears to be filed against such acquittals, adverse order passed against the departments, maintains the lawyer requesting the Chairman FBR to take notice, interfere and bring these alleged facts before the highest office holders of the country.