November 3, 2003	Monday	Ramazan 7, 1424

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NOWSHERA, Nov 2: The acting collector of NWFP Customs, Ghulam Ahmad, has accused the officials of the Attock police of helping smugglers to escape during a chase in the Punjab province.

Speaking at a press conference here on Saturday, he alleged that the personnel of Attock police made hostage customs officials and Nowshera police officers while they were chasing smugglers.

He pointed out that the customs was not a provincial department and they had the powers to chase smugglers in other province.

Mr Ahmad said that the officials of customs and Akora Khattak police station chased vehicles of smugglers and managed to stop a bus.

However, in the meantime the officials of Attock police arrived and made them hostages, he added.

Mr Ahmad said that they had informed the federal government about the incident and they would settle the issue with the Punjab government. He added that the collector customs, Liaqat Ali Agha, would assume duty on Monday and would deal the issue.

Giving details of the incident, the acting collector said that on Friday alleged smugglers — Malang, Bukht Sher and Janas — attacked the Kund check post of customs department and took away two oil tankers and a bus, full of smuggled clothes and beetle nuts worth Rs5.5 million.

Mr Ahmad said that he along with Nowshera ASP Faisal Ali Raja chased the smugglers and managed to stop the bus near Mansar camp. When the bus was being taken back to Peshawar the officials of Attock police stopped them at gunpoint, he added.

He said finally the custom officials took the smuggled goods in their possession and sealed it at Attock Khurd police station and arrested the accused.