RAWALPINDI: A group of alleged smugglers on Sunday night got a truck loaded with smuggled goods released from the Customs Intelligence officials who had seized it (truck) near Jhelum and were taking it to their headquarters in Islamabad.

When they were on their way to the headquarters the smugglers appeared and held the officials at gunpoint and escaped along with the truck.

A senior official of customs intelligence claimed that they called the police on 15, but they did not respond.

According to details, the customs intelligence received information that the smugglers were trying to smuggle contrabands to Rawalpindi from Lahore.

A raiding party was constituted, which intercepted the truck near Jhelum and arrested the driver and conductor.

The smugglers, who came in two Land Cruisers and four cars, blocked the road near Kalyam.

The customs’ superintendent, Lal Khan, when contacted, said the customs staff didn’t fire any gunshot due to the public safety, though the smugglers fired into the air to prevent them from chasing them.

“Apparently, electronic goods, imported cloth and other smuggled goods were being smuggled to Rawalpindi,” he said.

When the city police officer Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi was contacted, he said that the incident should be investigated.

A case has been registered against the smugglers under Anti-Terrorism Act.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2016