Customs officer awarded ‘major penalty’ for corruption

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed major penalty of ‘dismissal from service’ upon an officer of Pakistan Customs on the charges of corruption, misconduct and inefficiency.

The FBR in an office order issued on Tuesday stated that disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Mansab Shah, Inspector (BS-16) posted in Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Lahore in September 2020 on account of ‘Inefficiency, Misconduct & Corruption’.

Muteen Alam, Additional Collector (PCS/BS-19), Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Lahore was appointed as Inquiry Officer to conduct inquiry into the case on account of acts of omission and commission as detailed in the Charge Sheet / Statement of Allegations.

The Inquiry Officer submitted the inquiry report, according to which the charges of “Inefficiency, Misconduct & Corruption” were established against the accused officer.

Accordingly, the Collector, Collectorate of Customs (Enforcement), Lahore / Authorized Officer served Show Cause Notice dated February 15, 2021 upon the accused.

Upon receipt of reply to the Show Cause Notice, the accused was granted personal hearings on February 24, 2021 and March 24, 2021 to show cause in his defence.

The authorized officer, after considering the inquiry report, reply to Show Cause Notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearings, found the accused officer guilty of “Inefficiency, Misconduct & Corruption” and recommended to the Authority i.e. Member (Administration/Human Resource), FBR to impose major penalty of “Reduction to the lower post of Data Entry Operator” upon the accused officer as prescribed under Rule-4(1)(b)(iv) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973.

The Member (Admn/HR)/Authority afforded an opportunity of personal hearing to the accused to defend the case in person on June 21, 2021. However, the accused failed to appear for hearing on the scheduled date and time and Final Show Cause Notice dated August 13, 2021 was served upon the accused by the Member (Admn/HR)/ Authority and he submitted written reply to the Show Cause Notice dated August 25, 2021.

The Member (Admn/HR) / Authority after going through the facts and record of the case, and having considered all aspects of the case submitted before him, did not agree with the recommendations of the Authorized Officer/ Collector regarding imposition of major penalty of “Reduction to lower post of Data Entry Operator” upon the accused and acting in the capacity as Authority, in exercise of powers conferred under Rule 5(1)(iv) of Government Servants (E&D) Rules, 1973 has imposed major penalty of “Dismissal from Service” upon Mansab Shah, Inspector (BS-16), Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Lahore under Rule-4(1)(b)(iv) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973.

The accused shall have the right of appeal as admissible under the Civil Servants (Appeal) Rules, 1977.