Balochistan, KP, Fata: Rangers, FC get anti-smuggling powers

The Federal Board of Revenue has granted anti-smuggling powers to Pakistan Rangers and Frontier Corps stationed in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to carry out co-ordinated operations against the smugglers in the border areas. In this connection, the FBR has amended SRO. SRO 1090 (1)/2010 through an SRO1090(1)/2010 issued here on Wednesday.
Through the notification, the FBR entrusted to the officers of the Pakistan Rangers, Frontier Corps (Balochistan), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including FATA operating within their respective jurisdictions, the functions of officers of Customs under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act. This is subject to the condition that the functions shall be limited within 20 kilometres of the International Borders. Secondly, the functions shall exclude the city Municipal limits, Customs areas, Customs stations, ports, Borders Customs stations, International Airports and Bonded Warehouses etc. Thirdly, they shall not check any bonafide passenger''s baggage and goods cleared from any Customs area. Fourthly, they shall exercise due care and ensure that these functions are not used to the detriment of trade, imports and exports and to harass the general public and the seized goods shall be dealt with under the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1969.
According to the notification, the LEAs like Pakistan Rangers and Frontier Corps would conduct anti-smuggling operations on borders. The officials of the LEAs have been given the authority to exercise powers of Customs Act 1969, sources said. Under the notification, the officers not below the rank of non-Commissioned Officer within their respective jurisdictions would exercise powers under sections 158, 160(1) and (2); 168(1) and (3); 172(1) and 174 of the Customs Act.