KARACHI: In order to ensure greater transparency and to conduct a thorough, in-depth and professional investigation, into the case of narcotics smuggling abroad by M/s Qtinity, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) comprising officers from multiple formations.
The JIT has been assigned the job of supervising the investigations. The joint investigation team (JIT) comprises of Haroon Waqar Malik, Additional Collector, Appraisement-Port Qasim, Karachi; Inam ullah Wazir, Deputy Director, Directorate of l&l-Customs, Karachi; and Jawad ul Hassan, Assistant Collector, Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement-West), Karachi.
M/s Qtinity is owned by Humair Qureshi, son of Munir Qureshi (former Member Customs – FBR).
Raising questions on the JIT, an official said some BS-21 officer should be in-charge of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) such as Gul Rehman, Faiz Ahmed or Yaqoob Mako. Moreover, ANF personnel should also have been included in the investigation team.
The official said former Member Customs Munir Qureshi should also be included in the investigation, as it was his influence that resulted in the undetected export of narcotics previously. Besides, it was due to Munir Qureshi that the name of Humair Qureshi was not included in the FIR.
The official said the Customs officers and officials were not involved in this heinous crime, but they might have facilitated M/s Qtinity because of the trust that they had on the former Member Customs Munir Qureshi. Sources said the phone records of Munir Qureshi might also be analyzed as part of the investigations.
Officials have also raised questions on the integrity and efficiency of the risk management system of WeBOC. An official said whether the WeBOC system was flawed and inefficient, or it was being manipulated by someone to cover wrongdoings.
On the directives of Chief Collector Enforcement South Yaqoob Mako, Collector Export Farrukh Sajjad had expanded the circle of investigation into the case regarding illegal export of Amphetamine (ICE) to Australia. Humair Qureshi s/o of Munir Qureshi (former Member Customs – FBR) is the prime accused in the case.
Yaqoob Mako has advised the investigation team not to succumb to any pressure and has also sought details of the consignments cleared through MCC Port Qasim Export and AFU of Humair Qureshi’s company M/s Qtinity. Humair Qureshi is absconding.
Sources said that M/s Qtinity had illegally shipped narcotics abroad in past, which were seized abroad, but no case was lodged against Humair Qureshi due to the pressure exerted by Munir Qureshi.
Customs authorities have established that Fida Muhammad, Humair Qureshi and Taha Hussain connived with each other for the smuggling of narcotics substances. The record clearly indicates that Humair Qureshi s/o of Munir Qureshi is the actual exporter. Fida Muhammad is his accomplice and partner.
According to an official document, the money and profits obtained from the business of narcotics trade are stashed in foreign accounts and undeclared local accounts.