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FIA uncovers network WILL HONOR WHATEVER PUBLIC’S of customs officers DECISION WILL BE IN POLLS: PM SHEHBAZ facilitating smugglers
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Monday, 17 July, 2023 I 28 Zil Hajj, 1444
URGES MASSES TO KEEP ‘FACTS’ BEFORE MAKING DECISION AS IT WILL ‘DECIDE COUNTRY’S FUTURE’
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LAHORE
REGRETS ‘HIS LEADER NAWAZ’ WAS OUSTED FROM POWER DESPITE PUTTING COUNTRY ON PATH TO PROSPERITY
STAFF REPORT
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that it is the people’s decision of who they wished to bring to power but he urged them to keep “facts” before them as they made the decision that would “decide the future course of the country”. Addressing an event held at the Governor House in Lahore to distribute cheques to the youth as part of the government’s Youth, Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme, Shehbaz vowed that he would “honour whatever the public’s decision will be”. “And if it is indeed Nawaz Sharif that you choose in the upcoming polls, then I promise that we will collectively turn the entire situation around and put this country on the path to prosperity,” he said.” The premier stressed, “I am not saying that you should vote for Nawaz Sharif or me, I am only asking that you take into consideration the evidencebased image and testimonials before you as well as the destruction brought on [the country] during the last four years [during PTI regime’s term].”
The prime minister while lauding the statesmanship qualities of his elder brother, regretted that the former premier and his leader Nawaz Sharif was ousted from power despite the fact that he had ended hours-long crippling load shedding, provided laptops and loans to youth, and brought the muti-billions China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CEPC) power and road infrastructure
NAB halts corruption probe into wind power projects following amends to law ISLAMABAD
AHMAD AHMADANI
Following the recent amendment to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) law, the closure of corruption cases falling outside its jurisdiction has commenced. Under the new law, NAB is no longer authorized to investigate corruption allegations in wind power projects. As a result, the NAB Chairman has approved closure of the investigation into 16 wind power projects during the executive board meeting. According to reliable sources, the closure of these cases will not impede investigations conducted by other agencies or forums. The allegations in question pertained to money laundering and corruption, specifically concerning the upfront tariff of 16 wind power projects. The Chairman’s approval to close these cases aligns with the amended law that restricts NAB’s authority to investigate wind power projects. In a letter dated July 13, 2023, addressed to the Secretary of the Power Division, Mohsin Ali Khan, Additional Director (Staff) of NAB Rawalpindi, referred to the inquiry against officers and officials of NEPRA (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) and others involved in setting up high upfront tariffs for electricity in 16 wind power projects in Sindh. The letter stated that based on the findings of the final inquiry report and the recommendations of the regional NAB and Executive Board, the Chairman of NAB has approved the closure of the inquiry. During the Executive Board meeting, the Director-General of NAB Rawalpindi presented the case, highlighting that it falls under the regulatory body’s jurisdiction and is subject to the provisions of the National Accountability Amendment (NAA) Act, 2022.
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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 17 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
projects during 2015 in the country. On the other hand, he accused the PTI chief of having had a phobia of PML-N leadership and the opposition as day in and day out, he was “hell-bent” upon putting them in jails by framing them in fake cases, he said. He said all the youth programmes started during Nawaz’s tenure as 50,000 vehicles were provided to the people on
merit across Punjab. The success of the loan scheme could be gauged from the fact that 99 per cent of loans were returned to banks, he added. The prime minister maintained that Nawaz and the PML-N leadership had experienced the worst kind of political vendetta, to the point that they were sent into exile after ouster from power, but stressed that even then the party supremo never thought of going against the country. Shehbaz said that the previous government was brought to power through fraudulent elections, and it kept on attacking the opposition for the corruption charges they faced during its four years in power but failed to prove them. He also added that the PTI regime was ousted through a constitutional power, as he rebuked the deposed premier for using lewd language and tactics against the state institutions. The prime minister mentioned that PTI’s tenure was tainted with huge corruption scams, including sugar and wheat scams, BRT Peshawar, Malam Jabba, sale of Toshakhana gifts, Rs60 billion money embezzlement returned by the UK agency, etc and said that no one could deny these stark facts.
Pak-Iran vow to eradicate ‘common threat’ of terrorism as COAS concludes trip
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RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and Iranian military leadership vowed to eradicate the menace of terrorism on both sides of border through intelligence sharing and effective actions against the terrorists’ networks. “Pakistan and Iran will make joint efforts to eradicate terrorism in border areas through “intelligence sharing and effective actions” against terrorists’ networks, and explore avenues for enhancing cooperation in security domain, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). According to a news release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, COAS Gen Syed Asim Munir on Sunday concluded his two-day successful visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran. During the important visit, military leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan agreed that terrorism was a common threat to the region in general and both countries in particular. Gen Asim undertook the maiden trip to the neighbouring country as an army chief wherein he held talks with his Iranian counterpart and also met the civilian leadership including the Iranian president and foreign minister. During his visit, the COAS had detailed meetings with the military leadership of Iran including Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces, Major General Mohammad Bagheri. Military commanders on both sides agreed that terrorism was a common threat to the region in general and both countries in particular. The COAS also called on President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahain. During discussions, the sig-
nificance of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations for regional peace and stability was highlighted. The Army Chief was presented with the Guard of Honour by a smartly turned-out contingent of Iranian Armed Forces at the Military Headquarters on his arrival. The understanding came after Four Pakistan Army personnel embraced martyred in a terrorist attack on the Pakistan-Iran border in April. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement that the terrorists started firing on the security personnel patrolling at Jal Gayi sector on Pakistan-Iran border. Pakistan and Iran ties have been in the past marred by trust deficit because of regional rivalry between Tehran and Riyadh. But there has been a significant shift in geo political environment after China brokered a landmark rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Since then the two regional powers have restored their diplomatic ties and agreed to other steps seeking improvement in their relationship.
ISLAMABAD
AHMAD AHMADANI
The Federal Investigation Agency’s AntiCorruption Circle Karachi has made a significant breakthrough in its anti-smuggling investigation, unearthing a chain of Customs officers who have been facilitating smugglers. As a result, First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against five Customs officials and others involved in the illicit activities. According to the available copy of the FIR, a team from FIA ACC Karachi conducted a raid at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi. During the operation, two Customs officials, identified as Tariq Mehmood, Superintendent (ASO), and Yawar Abbas, Superintendent Operation, were apprehended while attempting to board Flight No. PA-208 bound for Islamabad on July 13, 2023, at 21:30 hours. During the search, the FIA team discovered the identity and official service cards of the accused Customs officials. Furthermore, a subsequent search of their official vehicle, a Toyota Vigo with the registration number GPA-297, parked at the airport’s parking lot, led to the recovery of a substantial amount of cash. The recovered items included PKR 5,437,200, US Dollar 2,400, and UAE Dirham 6,100. Upon further investigation and interrogation, Tariq Mehmood and Yawar Abbas confessed that the recovered amount was “speed money” collected from various Customs officials, including the concerned Collector, Additional Collector, Deputy Collector, Superintendent, SPS, SPO, and Pos. They also revealed that the monthly collection from all Customs check posts, such as Mochko, Mach Goth, Sohrab Goth, and Ghaggar Phatak, amounted to approximately 40 to 50 million PKR. Additionally, they disclosed that around Rs 60 million was collected in facilitation of the smuggling of betel nut. The accused Customs officials were subsequently taken to the FIA ACC Karachi for further investigation into their connection with the smugglers and their involvement in facilitating the organized transportation of smuggled goods. During the interrogation, Tariq Mehmood and Yawar Abbas implicated other Customs officers who were also receiving bribes/speed money for facilitating smugglers. According to the FIR, Saqif Saeed, who was appointed as Director Anti-Smuggling Organization (ASO) in 2020, played a key role in establishing the organized smuggling network. He appointed trusted individuals within the antismuggling division to collect speed money from various smugglers. Usman Bajwa, who later replaced Saqif Saeed as Director ASO, continued to facilitate the smugglers in exchange for bribes/speed money amounting to approximately Rs 100 million per month. In February 2023, Amir Thaheem assumed the position of Director AntiSmuggling and provided protection to smugglers involved in various illegal activities. The FIR also revealed that Tariq Mehmood disclosed the involvement of Imran Noorani, who operates a smuggling network for betel nut from the border areas of Balochistan to Karachi. Imran Noorani also runs a chhalia factory under the name of M/s Sunny Prodycts in the Shershah Industrial Area of Karachi. Following the approval of the competent authority, a case has been registered against Tariq Mehmood, Yawar Abbas, Saqif Saeed, Usman Bajwa, Amir Thaheem, Imran Noorani, and others under relevant sections of the law, including the Pakistan Customs Act 1969 and the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947. The FIA’s breakthrough in uncovering this network of Customs officers facilitating smugglers marks a significant step in the fight against corruption and illegal activities in the country.