ASF officials refuse to appear before investigators

LAHORE
Officials of Airport Security Force (ASF), accused in country’s one of the high-profile gold and currency smuggling case, have refused to appear before the investigators until they were summoned at the place of their choice, The News has learnt.
Sources, privy to the developments, told The News that Customs investigators have summoned thrice nine ASF Lahore officials who were on duty on the night of May 19, 2015 when accused Abdul Basit was apprehended by Customs authorities along with gold and foreign currency he was trying to smuggle to Dubai.
The currency worth 1,700 Saudi Riyals, 46,600 UAE Dirham, 240,000 Euro, 41,000 Swiss Franc, amounting total to Rs30.32 million and 1,300 tola gold, amounting Rs60 million was also recovered from him at the spot.
The Customs authorities had summoned ASF officials, including Sub-Inspector Hashmat Ali, SI Muhammad Latif Zahid, SI Muhammad Saeed, ASI Muhammad Mumtaz, ASI Muhammad Bashir, ASI Mazhar Iqbal, ASI Zulfiqar Hussain, Sabir Hussain and Nasir Mehmood through Abdul Aziz Khan, Assistant Director Operation, ASF Lahore, vide letter No C.No. 19-Seiz/I&P/2015/442 dated 15.09.2015 for September 16 for the third time but none of them could have appeared before the investigators as yet.
It is further learnt that now Customs authorities have written another letter to all the accused officials in individual capacity summoning them for September 30.
If they didn’t appear before the investigators on September 30, Customs may seek their arrest warrants from the relevant court.
Customs authorities are of the view that the way Airport Security Force officials are avoiding appearance before the investigators casting a lot of doubts as they believe these accused officials best know how Abdul Basit got entered the airport premises and where he actually was provided all the gold and currency.
When contacted on Tuesday, Chief Security Officer ASF Lahore Obaidullah Khan told The News that no Airport Security Force official would appear before the investigators until Customs authorities agreed to record their statements at the place of their choice.
“ASF officials would appear before the Customs officials only at the airport premises. The Customs authorities can record their statements but only in our presence”, the CSO remarked.
Talking to The News senior Customs officials, seeking anonymity, said initially ASF officials were asked verbally to record statements even at the airport but no one did appear at the given time and date.
It is hilarious that accused wanted to record statement at the place of their choice; they said, adding that the ASF high-ups should write us if they wanted statements to be recorded at the place of their choice.
We will see into it as per law, they maintained.
To a question, they remarked if ASF officials didn’t appear before the investigators we may move to a court for their arrest warrants.
It is pertinent to mention here that earlier, Airport Security Force has also refused to provide CCTV footage to Customs investigators of those specific areas of Lahore Airport where the accused passenger was allegedly delivered gold and currency claiming that they had no footage of those areas Customs were demanding.
The Customs investigators had demanded footage from ASF of areas, including entrance of vehicles, Concors Hall, 2nd scanner installed in the immigration hall, area of CD shop of International Passenger Departure Lounge, washrooms and departure passenger lounge to ascertain where Abdul Basit was allegedly delivered gold and currency and by whom but ASF CSO Obaidullah had told The News that they provided what they had in their possession.
Airport Security Force had no CCTV footage of those areas Customs authorities were demanding, CSO had remarked.
It is pertinent to mention here that Customs Lahore are investigating a case registered against Abdul Basit, Taufeeq Butt alias Tifi Butt, Nadeem, Tahir and other accused persons under Sections 2(s)-16-139-156-(1)(8)(70)-157-178 of the Customs Act 1969 and Section 8 (2) of Foreign Exchange Regulation Act 1947 for smuggling gold and currency abroad.
Basit has pleaded guilty before the court and he was sentenced for the imprisonment of period already he had undergone with a fine of Rs2 million.
Taufeeq Butt, Nadeem, Tahir alias Jadugar and Sher Ali had also recorded their statements before the investigators and claimed their innocence. Some of the accused persons are on pre-arrest bail as investigations are underway.