TAXILA: The Customs authorities sealed 12 petrol pumps in Attock district for allegedly selling smuggled fuel.

Sources said the customs special anti-smuggling squad had the assistance of local administration and police.

Sources said assistant collector Jallal Haider Zaidi led the operation along with Hazro assistant commissioner Shagufta Jabeen. The petrol pumps were located on G.T. Road, Hattain and Shamsabad.

A customs official told Dawn that the premises of the petrol pumps which did not have permit to sell the fuel were sealed by the district administration under Section 43A of Pakistan Petroleum Rules, 1971 as well as the Customs Act, 1969 of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002.

“Legal procedure has been initiated against the owners of the fuel pumps,” the official said.

If the sealed pumps owners cannot show valid documents within seven days of sealing, the government will confiscate the petrol pumps under the Customs Act along with all the owners’ properties, he said.

Meanwhile, Hazro assistant commissioner Shagufta Jabeen booked and arrested the manager of a petrol pump for breaking the seal of a petrol pump which was placed by the customs authorities on Wednesday and illegally selling the petrol.

A case was also registered against the accused on the charges of ‘interfering in state matters’.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2021