LHC Deputy registrar OSD over alleged customs fraud

According to documents cited in the complaint and information available to Minute Mirror, the action followed a written application submitted

LAHORE: Lahore High Court ( LHC) Chief Justice Justice Alia Neelum has approved the removal of Deputy Registrar Sheikh Zahoor Ahmed from his current assignment and his placement as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), following a complaint containing allegations of impersonation, fraud and financial misconduct.

According to documents cited in the complaint and information available to Minute Mirror, the action followed a written application submitted by citizen Muhammad Noor Khan, who alleged that Sheikh Zahoor Ahmed, while serving as Deputy Registrar at the LHC Multan Bench, represented himself as the Director General of Customs Pakistan and used that identity in connection with the clearance of vehicles.

The complainant alleged that he was persuaded to hand over 10 vehicles to Customs authorities in Hayatabad, Peshawar, and was subsequently asked to pay Rs7.55 crore for their clearance. He further alleged that after the payment was made, the vehicles were neither returned nor cleared as promised and contact with the accused official was subsequently discontinued.

The complaint further alleges that several cheques were issued in connection with the disputed transaction, including cheques valued at Rs3 crore and Rs4 crore, along with another cheque reportedly worth Rs7 crore. The complainant has placed the overall disputed amount at approximately Rs14.55 crore.

The allegations have not been established through a final judicial or criminal finding, and the matter remains subject to investigation and due process.

The complainant has requested that the relevant Customs record concerning the 10 vehicles be obtained, including their custody, seizure, inventory and present status. He has also sought verification of any auction or disposal proceedings involving the vehicles and offered to provide payment records, witnesses and other supporting material to the investigating authorities.

The complaint calls for action under relevant provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code if the allegations of impersonation and cheating are established, including provisions relating to impersonating a public servant and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.

The development has drawn attention because it involves a serving official of the Lahore High Court and allegations concerning an alleged representation as a senior Customs official. Any determination of criminal liability, however, will depend on the findings of the competent investigative and judicial authorities.

The placement of an official on OSD is an administrative measure and does not, by itself, establish criminal guilt. The allegations contained in the complaint will therefore require independent verification through the relevant inquiry and investigative process.

The case also raises questions requiring verification about the movement and legal status of the vehicles allegedly taken to Customs authorities in Peshawar, the identity under which the transaction was conducted, the financial trail of the alleged payments and the authenticity and purpose of the cheques referred to in the complaint.

Further proceedings could determine whether the allegations warrant referral to the relevant anti-corruption or federal investigative authorities. The Customs record and financial documentation are expected to be particularly significant in establishing the factual circumstances surrounding the dispute.

For the Lahore High Court administration, the matter places renewed focus on internal accountability and the handling of complaints against court officials. Any disciplinary or criminal proceedings, however, will have to follow the applicable legal and institutional procedures.

Minute Mirror will continue to follow the matter as official records, inquiry findings and responses from the concerned authorities become available.