FTO for probe against officials involved in Isaf container scam

Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) Dr Shoaib Suddle said on Tuesday that the criminal investigation should be initiated against the officials involved in the Isaf container scam. Addressing a press conference on the annual performance of the FTO Office for 2010 here on Tuesday.
Dr Suddle said that the FTO office would expand the scope of investigation against those involved in the ISAF containers scam and establish the case based on solid evidence. His office would definitely establish case against the culprits who misused the Afghan transit trade facility and cleared containers under the cover of Isaf/Nato forces operating in Afghanistan. The FTO office is moving on the right track and criminal proceedings should be initiated against those involved.
Fully endorsing the report of the FTO office, he said that we are technically on track and we will establish the case against the culprits. It is impossible that containers could complete the whole trip from Karachi to Torkham and back to terminal in Karachi in eight days period. Any container which comes before time would be considered as suspicious. Around 70 percent of the transit containers are coming from Karachi to Torkham whereas only 30 percent are coming from Karachi to Chaman. Keeping in view time taken by the container to complete whole journey, the transit container would be considered as suspicious in case it takes eight days.
The Pral data is highly unreliable and cannot be used for investigation of the missing containers scam, he said. The FTO explained that the Isaf containers scam is not based on assumptions and criminal investigation would be initiated against the involved officials. We have intentionally not mentioned the names of the involved officials in the report till providing them opportunity of hearing to explain their position in the investigation.
He said that the FTO office has reached the stage to prove facts against the culprits and would shortly visit Karachi to further investigate the case. "I will also meet freight forwarders and if they would provide any evidence in this case, it would definitely be examined," he said.
The issue of misdeclaration of imported consignments would be separately investigated through a separate inquiry, which would be conducted in due course of time. In case of ISAF containers scam, when you have to fix responsibility against the individuals, there is a need to conduct criminal investigations. It is a matter of principle of justice to the provide opportunity of hearing to the concerned officers.
When asked about reason for fixing time of eight days in the containers scam, Dr Shoaib Suddle said that US Military has confirmed that the Isaf/Nato container moving from Karachi to Torkham take at least 6-7 days and one side journey from Karachi to Chaman takes four and half days.
To a question on the role of NLC in clearance of transit containers, the FTO said that the FTO report on container scam has mentioned about the NLC. As a bonded carrier, it is the responsibility of the NLC to safely transport the containers. Practically, it has been witnessed that the NLC gives NOC to private trucks, which have no tracker system and do not meet the specific international standards.
About the containers imported by M/s Louis Berger during February-July 2007, the FTO stated that 26 containers of the said company have not reached Afghanistan, which clearly reflects that the issue of missing containers was taking place in the past.
To another query, he responded that the seals have been put on containers at Karachi and de-sealing process is done at Amman Ghar (Naushera) or Chaman where the containers have been de-stuffed for onward transportation to Afghanistan. The modus operandi applied by the culprits was that the containers were dismantled or de-stuffed in Karachi, but only 'shippers seals' were deposited to the concerned authorities in Chaman/Amman Ghar to show that the containers have reached the border.
The seals were transferred to merely prove in documents that containers have reached their destination. Contrary to this, only seals have been taken to the concerned destination to complete documentation. When asked about the Terms of Reference of the FTO in investigation of the scam, he responded that anything to do with the maladministration comes within the ToR of the FTO.