Senate Committee seeks details from FBR over cigarette theft

ISLAMABAD, Aug 7 (APP): The Senate Standing Committee on Interior’s subcommittee on Friday sought detailed reports from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and other relevant institutions regarding the seizure and alleged theft of non-custom-paid cigarettes, as well as information about Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) and the tobacco sector.

The meeting, chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro, was held at Parliament House and discussed a report aired by private television channel ABN News concerning non-custom-paid cigarettes seized by Pakistan Customs and the Motorway Police near Chakri.

FIA officials informed the committee that a complete inquiry report into the alleged theft of cigarettes had already been forwarded to the FBR. The committee directed the FBR and relevant agencies to provide comprehensive details about Pakistan Tobacco Company, tobacco manufacturers and their registered brands, tax payments, imported raw materials and overall revenue collection.

Senator Abro said the committee’s objective was not to target journalists but to investigate alleged large-scale tax evasion in the tobacco sector. He said the inquiry stemmed from the theft of 2,828 cartons of cigarettes from an FBR warehouse, a case currently under investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The committee directed the FIA to submit details of the cigarette brands involved and sought further information regarding imported tobacco materials and tax records.

The committee also directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Press Information Department (PID) to submit reports on the matter and discussed the legal mechanisms for dealing with complaints against media organisations.

Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Ashfaq Ahmed Khail briefed the committee on media regulations and the powers of the government and the Ministry of Information. He clarified that the ministry and PID did not have direct powers to take action against television channels or newspapers.

He said complaints against television channels could be lodged before the relevant Council of Complaints, while complaints concerning newspapers could be taken to the Press Council of Pakistan.

The secretary said the government and Ministry of Information were committed to protecting the rights, professional independence and welfare of journalists and media workers. He said the Commission for Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals had been established under the relevant law for protection of journalists’ rights.

He added that the Constitution guaranteed every citizen freedom of expression within the limits prescribed by law, while the ministry remained committed to promoting free, responsible and professional journalism.

PFUJ President Afzal Butt said journalists were not above the law and anyone having a complaint could approach the relevant legal forums, including PEMRA and the Press Council of Pakistan.

At the conclusion, Senator Abro said journalists were “our arms” and that the committee valued them, but no one should be allowed to malign another person or unjustifiably damage their reputation.

The committee referred the issue concerning the ABN News report to PFUJ President Afzal Butt for an independent review and urged him to examine the matter.