The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Director General Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Attorney General to submit detailed report on steps taken to eliminate illegal trade and human trafficking at borders.
A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and comprising Justice Dost Muhammad Khan and Justice Qazi faez Isa heard the case regarding illegal human trafficking at Torkham and Chaman borders and passed the direction to concerned authorities.
The bench described the report as amazaing about Torkham border that every day 15,000 to 30,000 people cross Torkham without any surveillance.
The court also directed the Chairman FBR and DG FIA to inform the court about the steps taken in this regard during the last 15 years.
The bench observed that the report in respect of Torkham border area indicated alarming situation as there was no effective mechanism present at border to enforce relevant laws.
The bench directed Chairman FBR, DG FIA and AGP to submit report that why FIA Act 1974, Foreigners Act 1946, Exit from Pakistan (control) Ordinance 1981, Passport Act 1967, the immigration Ordinance 1979, Prevention and control of Human Trafficking Ordinance 2002 have not been extended to Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) so far.
During the course of proceedings, Rana Waqar Additional Attorney General informed the court that two commissions constituted by the apex court to review overall situation at Torkham and Chaman borders, have already visited both the borders and returned last night. He said the commissions would submit its report till Wednesday.
Farooq Adam Advocate General Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, a member of the Torkahm border commission submitted report in his individual capacity and informed the court that FIA has symbolic presence at the international border at Torkham since year 2004.
He stated that FIA staff comprises 26 personnel with the Tehsildar Khyber Agency acting as the Chief Immigration Officer. FIA and NADRA offices are located in specifically designed containers and as a result the role of FIA at Torkham border is only to check travelling documents of people who voluntarily come forward to get their passports stamped.
He said biometric mechines are not available at Torkham border. FIA was not keeping record of people whether Pakistanis or foreigners entering or leaving Pakistan except those who voluntarily coming forward to get their passports stamped.
Omer Farooq said the undocumented economy generated between Torkham border, Bara and the hawala/hundi market of Chowk Yadgar was reported to be between Rs 5 to 6 billion per month.
The goods seized every month from Torkham border cost millions of dollars and none of its record was available or maintained by any department, he said, illegal trade from Torkham border alone was Rs 100 million to 150 million per day as customs officials have no equipment to scan the goods vehicles.
Chief Custom Officer Muhamamd Zubair informed the court that commercial vehicles could not cross the border without paying custom duty as three federal agencies are working on Torkham border. He said that customs have no existence at entry or exist points of Torkham border.
Justice Qazi Faez asked “what is being produced in Afghanistan and imported to Pakistan.”
The Chief Justice remarked that if statistical data is submitted before the bench then it could be understood that how much work has been done in this regard.
Justice Dost Muhammad remarked that poultry goods, meat, wheat and dairy products were being smuggled to Afghanistan according media reports.
He observed that billions of dollars were being smuggled to Afghanistan annually from Ghulam Khan crossing point and custom officials were unaware about it.
The bench raised questions that why laws have not been extended to FATA.
Anti-terrorism laws have not been extended to FATA while all the terrorist links leads to that area, the bench observed.
Later, the bench directed the commission to submit report on Chaman border till Tomorrow (Wednesday) and adjourned hearing of the case till September 07.
