Pak minister accused of diamond smuggling

smuggle diamonds into the country.

Punjab Prisons Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor "forcibly" took away the luggage of his guest passengers from the Lahore airport without getting it scanned.

The Customs officials claim that they had a tip off that a passenger coming from Thai Airways on May 19 was carrying diamonds. Only minister's two passengers on the flight got away from any checking, they said.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stopped Ghafoor from performing his duties on the charges and constituted a three-member team headed by former Inspector General of Police-Punjab Shaukat Javed to probe the matter.

Ghafoor came to the airport on May 19 to receive his friends coming from Bangkok by a Thai Airlines' flight.

Enjoying the privilege of his office, he entered the arrival lounge and "forcibly" took away the luggage without scanning and "misused" the Green Channel facility.

"The minister got furious and threatened the officials of dire consequences when he was informed that passengers coming from Thailand and Far Eastern countries could not use the facility of Green Channel and their luggage had to be scanned," a Customs official told PTI.

He said the officials insisted that they had to check the luggage of each passenger after receiving the information but the minister gave them a "shut up call".

The official said the passengers coming from Bangkok and other Far Eastern countries usually bring liquor and smuggled items with them that was why the Civil Aviation Authority had made their checking mandatory.

"However some Customs officials charge a few bucks from such passengers for clearing them. In other cases the passengers with 'official protocol' are also exempted from any 'official scanning' of their luggage," he clarified, arguing that the staff officer of the minister in question could have easily got through the luggage and why the minister bothered to come. "It means there was something fishy."

Ghafoor, however, termed the allegation of "smuggling of diamonds" as rubbish. "This is rubbish and a handiwork of his opponents to malign his reputation."

He said he neither misbehaved nor used his influence to get his guest passengers cleared. "In fact I had gone to receive the foreign delegates when three Customs officials misbehaved with me and them," he said.

He said he had complained to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani about the Customs officials responsible for the "mess".

"Mr Ghafoor will have to face the music if the charges are proved," Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanullah maintained.