RAWALPINDI:  The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a case against six customs officials on charges of corruption and began conducting raids on Sunday for the arrest of one official accused of demanding a bribe from a British passenger.

The British passenger exposed the official on social media on Feb 23 alleging that a customs official at the airport had demanded 10pounds from him saying his bags would not be checked-in unless he pays a bribe.

Soon after the incident came to light, the official was suspended and a top level fact finding committee, headed by the airport manager, was formed to probe into the matter.

Before the inquiry could be completed, the interior minister took notice of the issue and directed the FIA to register a case against six officials.

The official accused of demanding the bribe was suspended while five others, including a shift-in charge, a deputy superintendent, two inspectors and a constable who were on duty at the airport on Feb 23 were transferred to the Customs Headquarters.

The British passenger, who was travelling from Islamabad to Birmingham via Dubai did not register a formal complaint with the customs authorities or to the FIA.

A customs official, requested anonymity, said that the FIA is conducting raids to arrest the official accused of demanding the bribe as he is missing while the other five officials were directed to appear before the investigation team.

Published in Dawn March 16th , 2015

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