ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control expressed strong displeasure over the absence of chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday and emphasised that his presence in the next meeting would be mandatory to ensure timely conclusion of the matter of the theft of 2,828 cartons of confiscated cigarettes from FBR godowns in Swabi and Mardan.
The sub-committee meeting, chaired by convener Senator Saifullah Abro, was informed that the consignment had been seized in 2024 and that three employees — a chowkidar, a naib qasid, and a driver — were dismissed on the recommendations of an internal inquiry committee.
However, serious concerns were raised regarding anomalies in the inquiry report. The convener questioned the rationale behind dismissing lower-grade employees when reports from the police and FIA indicated that the seals, ceiling, and locks of the godowns were found intact.
He further questioned whether such employees could have executed the theft with such precision. The committee also expressed concern that the exact date of the theft remains unknown. The committee observed that responsibility appeared to have been fixed to lower-tier staff, while officers in higher grades remained unaccountable, and expressed dissatisfaction over the submission of incomplete working papers.
The FIA investigation team informed the committee that despite repeated requests, CCTV footage, stock registers, and the internal inquiry report had not been provided. The committee expressed serious concern over the non-provision of critical case records to the FIA.
It also questioned the decision to shift the confiscated consignment from a CCTV-monitored godown to another facility lacking surveillance cameras. Senator Abro directed the FBR to provide complete documentation, including the authority responsible for ordering the transfer and the proceedings of the internal inquiry committee.
The committee was told that the FBR had strengthened its security mechanisms and devised comprehensive SOPs, to which the committee highlighted recent theft incidents and sought detailed records of similar cases from 2012 onwards.
The convener further directed that the stocktaking officers who first detected the theft must appear in the next meeting. The sub-committee appreciated the efforts of the FIA investigation team and urged the FBR to extend full cooperation.
Emphasising the need to curb corruption, Senator Abro reiterated that the committee stands supportive of institutional reforms but will not tolerate negligence or concealment.
He directed the FBR board members, secretary Law Division, and all relevant officials to attend the next meeting and declared the presence of FBR chairman as mandatory. He also underscored the necessity of accountability, particularly in cases where officers’ assets appear questionable.
