ISLAMABAD: After the incident of embezzlement of senior Australian residents’ {dollars} by the Airport Safety Employees (ASF) on the Islamabad Worldwide Airport, the Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has directed all airports to ascertain Customs foreign money declaration counter earlier than the ASF counter.
Based on an order of the FTO, this incident of theft by the ASF workers happened on the Islamabad Worldwide Airport. Customs officers have been additionally concerned in maladministration within the mentioned case towards the senior residents of Australia.
These complaints have been filed towards the Collectorate of Customs and Airport Safety Power (ASF), Islamabad Worldwide Airport (IIA), by way of Part 10(1) of the Federal Tax Ombudsman Ordinance, 2000 (FTO Ordinance), for refund of lacking quantity of Australian {dollars} (AUD). All complaints have equivalent points and are disposed of, via this single consolidated order.
The FTO has directed the Federal Board of Income (FBR) to direct all Chief Collectors of Customs, throughout the nation, together with Collector Customs, Islamabad, to ascertain and functionalize a Customs foreign money declaration counter, in collaboration with CAA (underneath Part 14A of Customs Act, 1969), at an appropriate place however earlier than ASF counter, as a primary level of interplay with outgoing worldwide passengers, as per regulation.
Incoming worldwide passengers: Declaration of $10,000 or above foreign exchange made obligatory
The FTO confirmed that it’s evident that ASF workers detected overseas foreign money from the purse of complainant Syeda Rashida Kazmi, travelling overseas and on enquiry by ASF workers, entire quantity of AUD 147,000 was declared by complainant however ASF detained quantity and made a “Hawalgi report” after which known as Customs workers and handed over complainant and overseas foreign money, with Hawalgi report for an quantity of AUD 131,900, to Customs workers.
Complainant was not given any alternative by ASF workers to declare her items/foreign money earlier than Customs workers, as per provisions of Part 139 of the Customs Act, 1969.
Briefly, complainant said that they got here from Australia to Pakistan together with 10 different members of the family to settle in Pakistan completely. Nevertheless, attributable to unsure scenario of the nation, they determined to return, together with their introduced in saved pension quantity, equal to AUD 147,000, obtained from Australian authorities.
Evidently an extra quantity of AUD 4,950 was paid by Customs, unaccounted for in Hawalgi and seizure report, and was handed over to complainant Syed Muzafar Kazmi underneath an undated receipt.
This truth confirms that truly detained and seized quantity of AUD was not 131,900 however was way more than that and declare of complainant positive factors power that quantity was AUD 147,000 and that an quantity of AUD 15,100 had been stolen out illegally like a broad daylight theft. Return of AUD 4,950 by Customs workers to complainant, as a substitute of together with that quantity and making out an entire seizure of AUD 136,850, a partial seizure of AUD 131,900 was made with none lawful excuse and authorized provision.
All of the above-narrated info tantamount to maladministration towards Customs. Furthermore, clear theft of AUD 15,100 can’t be denied on the premise of corroborative proof and related document which establishes the declare of complainants and is tantamount to gross maladministration and misconduct towards related ASF workers with expenses of theft, dacoity, and embezzlement of passenger foreign money. The FTO has beneficial the FBR to represent a fact-finding inquiry committee to analyze all involved Customs officers together with Inspector SM Ejaz and provoke mandatory disciplinary proceedings underneath E& D Guidelines, 2020, towards these discovered responsible, as per regulation.
The FBR ought to convey, instructions of this workplace to Secretary, Ministry of Aviation and DG ASF, to represent a fact-finding inquiry committee towards Munawar Khan, AD/Sector Incharge, Sgt Afzal Hussain and all otherconcerned ASF officers and provoke mandatory disciplinary proceedings underneath E& D Guidelines, 2020, towards these discovered responsible, as per regulation.
Copyright Enterprise Recorder, 2022
