MULTAN: Government should conduct scrutiny of all foreigners including Indians working at Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) to ensure national security.
This was stated by auto importer Syed Hussain Musa Raza Gillani while talking to Customs Today about foreigners working without permission of Ministry of Interior (MOI).
He said that illegal appointment of Indians at the Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) without approval of Interior Ministry was an eye opener and these illegally appointed Indians were involved in spoiling business environment of country. These illegal Indians and others have created a network at Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) with a few corrupt officials of Customs and they are openly blackmailing genuine importers at the time of clearance of shipments for generating kickbacks.
Relations between Pakistan and India are unfriendly due to multiple conflicts including Kashmir and others. Indian security agencies are highly involved in the aiding terrorism to destroy peace and economic activities of country. Indians have imposed a war-like situation on Pakistan due to continuous violations of ceasefire at Line of Control.
Indians are backing terrorism to deteriorate Pakistan. Our security forces have arrested red-handed Indian Terrorist and Naval Officer Kulbhusan Sudhir Jadhav from Balochistan on charges of terrorism and spying for Indian Intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Terrorist Kulbhusan Sudhir Jadhav also admitted in his confession that he was on mission of destabilizing Balochistan and Karachi by promoting terrorism and he was involved in anti-state activities in the country.
He said that shipping companies are creating impediments for clearance of genuine shipments at the port due to close connection with Customs officials and they are extorting importers for generation of their kickbacks by collecting illegal demurrage and detention charges. Collection of illegal demurrage and detention charges should be stopped and operational license of those shipping companies which are involved in blackmailing importers for the sake of exorbitant charges must be cancelled for violation of SRO 1220(I)/ 2015 in order to protect the genuine importers.
He said that genuine importers are facing frustration at large scale for clearance of their shipments because few shipping companies including Maersk Pakistan and QICT compelled them to pay additional demurrage and detention charges.
He expressed that safety and economic security of the Pakistan depends upon the secure use of the Port Qasim terminals and illegal appointment of Indians at QICT without approval of Interior Ministry should be probed by setting high level Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to reveal their nefarious agenda. Illegally appointed Indians are defaming image of QICT due to their fraudulent practices and they are charging illegal demurrage and detention charges from importers without any justification.
He demanded from government of Pakistan to conduct scrutiny of all foreigners working at QICT on emergency basis to ensure security and protection at strategic port, and these foreigners are involved in robbing huge revenue from genuine importers through fraudulence.