The Team of ‘The Inquirer’ discovered the most precious 17 Gems of Corruption in Pakistan Customs?

 Another scandal of alleged bribery, misuse of authority and theft under government patronage has come to light in Sargodha Customs. Importer Farrukh Jamil has leveled serious allegations against Superintendent Customs Mahmood Dogar, Inspector Ali Raza Bhatti, Constable Zulfiqar Wahla and office official Danish of taking a bribe of Rs 1.3 million and disappearing imported goods worth Rs 2.5 million.

According to sources, a Mazda loaded with capacitors, imported creams and lights was stopped by customs officials in Mominabad, Sargodha and taken to the customs office for examination. The Customs Inspector/Investigation Officer present at the spot indicated that he would conduct the examination himself, however, Superintendent Mahmood Dogar allegedly forcibly intervened and said that he had conducted the examination himself and wanted to make a case.

Sources say that after this, Superintendent Mahmood Dogar moved the truck full of imported goods from Sargodha to Faisalabad, where a hefty bribe of Rs 1.3 million was collected from the importer in exchange for leaving the vehicle. Permission was granted to leave the vehicle the next day, but the real game began after that.

According to importer Farrukh Jamil, when he reached Lahore with the goods, valuable imported goods worth about Rs 2.5 million were missing from the truck. It is alleged that Superintendent Mahmood Dogar removed these goods with the connivance of Customs Inspector Ali Raza Bhatti, Constable Zulfiqar Wahla and Daftari Danish.

A more serious revelation is that when the importer asked about his missing goods, he was threatened with serious consequences and flatly refused to return the goods. The importer says that he has paid the full customs duty on all the imported goods, despite this, a bribe was first taken and then the goods were stolen. The petition also clarified that Superintendent Mahmood Dogar is currently posted in the Admin Branch Sargodha and according to the law, it does not come under his jurisdiction to seize smuggled or suspicious goods, which raises a question mark over the entire matter as to under which law he took action.

After the incident, importer Farrukh Jamil has submitted a written application to Chief Collector Customs Basit Masood Abbasi and Director FIA, demanding an immediate investigation, criminal action against those responsible and recovery of the missing goods or their value.

This incident has become a cause for serious concern in customs circles and the question is being raised that if customs officers are allegedly involved in bribery and theft, from whom can ordinary traders and importers expect justice?