November 3, 2001	Saturday	Shaba’an 16, 1422

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GUJRANWALA, Nov 2: The customs collector on Friday issued arrest warrants for seven officials who were reportedly involved in misplacing official record and embezzling a Land Cruiser.

The officials, including two deputy superintendents, caught a Land Cruiser (Karachi-8318) worth Rs5 million owned by Cantonment Board vice-chairman Shaikh Muhammad Ijaz a few months ago on the charge of evading custom duty. They parked it in the compound of custom office. A few days later, the vehicle disappeared along with office computer and other record.

Customs officials accused that Ijaz took away the vehicle and the record after breaking into the customs office. An inquiry was conducted by police which found the customs officials guilty. But the inquiry report could not come up following the transfer of the SSP. Later, a CIA official conducted inquiry afresh and found the customs staff guilty.

Warrants were issued for anti-smuggling squad deputy superintendents Nasimullah and Shaukat Ali, inspector Ghulam Muhammad and other low-paid employees.

They are still at large.

DISTRICT COUNCIL: Opposition members who were nominated convener of various sub-committees resigned in protest and walked out of the concluding session of the district council on Friday.

Later, opposition leader Nauman Butt, at a hurriedly called press conference, said its members tendered resignations against imposition of heavy taxes without any justification.

He claimed that the district Nazim did not attend even a single session of the district council while his group nominated an army of conveners of sub-committees.

Mr Butt alleged that women and minority councillors were ignored in sub-committees while treasury group was attempting to establish dictatorship in the house.

He said the treasury group nominated opposition members on only four sub-committees. A total 55 sub-committees were formed during the four-day session.

He announced that the opposition would fight against ruling party for the protection of oppressed and deprived people.

SALES TAX: The sales tax collectorate set up an information centre headed by an assistant commissioner for providing information to business community in connection with their sales tax cases.