KARACHI: Illegal appointment of Indians at Pakistan’s strategic sea port Qasim International Containers Terminal (QICT) without the Ministry of Interior’s (MOI) clearance could pose security threat to the country. Indians are spying on the QICT as it is controlled by M/s DP World Group with 75% shares and, many of the management staff and directors of board are Indian nationals. Through such a discreet control of the QICT, Indians could achieve their alleged nefarious activities to destroy peace and stability in Pakistan.
The CIJ Pakistan informed the Chairman of Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) through complaint/letter No. 165/CIJ/11/2018 dated November 12, 2018 regarding the above and specifically in terms of high security risk to our nation due to malpractice and illegalities of officials of PQA, QICT Pakistan Limited, M/s DP World Group and others. SECP, in its reply through a letter vide reference No. CLD/CCD/Misc./C&Q/2016-6300 dated December, 4, 2018 issued with the stamp and signature of Khurram Shahzad, Assistant Registrar of Companies admitted that “in regards to the appointment of Indian nationals in the M/s QICT Pakistan Limited, please be informed that the returns pertaining to the appointments have not yet been accepted by the concerned Registrar and the case has already been forwarded to the Ministry of Interior (the “MOI”) for clearance. Further course of action will be decided after the receipt of the clearance from MOI.”
It is surprising that whereas SECP admits that they have not yet accepted returns pertaining to the appointments by the concerned registrar then under what law they have allowed operations of QICT to continue despite the fact that SECP has already acknowledged the irregularity of QICT whereas also admittedly clearance of MOI is pending as forwarded by SECP itself. Being a regulator, SECP is bound by law to deregister QICT Pakistan Limited immediately or at least halt the operations till such time that MOI gives its clearance/No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Furthermore, if clearance is denied by MOI forthwith then the irregularities/damages caused by QICT Pakistan Limited in such period where SECP allowed its operations without MOI clearance would solely be laid upon SECP. The accused persons are powerful and rich people while apparently these companies can easily pressurize and buy government officers/officials and no action is perceived under the situation except with the indulgence of the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan.
Reportedly, some directors of holding company of QICT Pakistan Limited are Indians who have been handling Indian Ports in the past like Rizwan Sultanali Soomar who is an Indian national and now Chairman & Director of M/s DP World Karachi has been head of APM Terminals investments in India, also served as Director of Gujrat Pipavav Port Limited, India and also served as Managing Director of Maersk Line India & Sri Lanka. Also Devang Mankodi, an Indian national, is Director of DP World Karachi and he has served as Director of Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal India and also worked in Logistics Company in India. This implies that QICT Port of Pakistan is controlled by Indians. Ports are highly sensitive and strategic assets of Pakistan which cannot be given in the hands of nationals of hostile countries.
Devang Mankodi, Director of DP World Karachi
Ports are highly sensitive and strategic assets of Pakistan which cannot be given in the hands of nationals of an arch rival. With such management holding of Indians, electronic data and sensitive information like in and out movement at the Port and other classified information of Pakistan can always be shared with India.
In addition, Pakistan Army is fully capable to defend the country’s territorial integrity against any Indian aggression. Recently it shot down two Indian spy drones, or “quadcopters”, along with the Line of Control (LoC). Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor says Pakistan armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any Indian misadventure. The Pakistan Army, he said, holds an impregnable ability to defeat India. Any misadventure by India would be given a befitting response, he added. Earlier, Pakistan thwarted spying attempts of India, arrested its spy Kulbushan Jadhav and broke the backbone of his network. Now the Pak army is apprised of other spying activities of Indians through discreet control of strategic QICT. Copies of the letter in this regard already sent to high ups including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the DG ISI, the DG MI, the DG ISPR, the DG Pakistan Rangers Sindh, the DG Intelligence Pakistan Navy, the DG Pakistan Maritime Securities Agency (PMSA), the Minister for Interior, the Minister for Maritime Affairs, the Chairman NAB and the DG FIA to take action against dangerous anti-state activities of Indian through QICT.
The CIJ demanded legal action against accused including Yuvraj Narayan, Deepak Parekh, Robert Woods, Abdulla Ghobash, Mark Russell, Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Nadya Abdulla Kamali, Mohammed Al Muallem, Suhail Al Banna, Rizwan Soomar, Mathew Leech, Abdulla Bin Damithan, Devang Mankodi, Rashid Abdulla, Mohammad Al Hashimy, Habibullah Khan, Nusrat Khan, Aly Khan, Junaid Zamir, Changaz Hassan Niazi, Farhan Mithani, Masoud Noori, Mohammad Al Mannaei, Omer Al Mohairi, Cyrus R Khursigara, Shahid Iqbal, Uzair Qureshi, Fasih Haider, Faraz Aziz, Abdul Aleem Mirza, Saad Zulfiqar and others of DP World/ QICT Ltd.
The Supreme Court needs to issue orders to the Government Agencies/Organizations like National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) and others to expedite action against such alleged nefarious acts of QICT as discreet control of this highly sensitive port could pose a serious risk to national security.