ISLAMABAD: As the interior ministry steps up its campaign against corruption within the ministry, it has surrendered an officer who was allegedly found involved in a scam of Rs11 million taken as bribe from dozens of Chinese nationals for issuance of exit permits to them.

Services of Joint Secretary Khalid Rasool have been placed at the disposal of the establishment division on charges of inefficiency, bribery and misconduct while inquiries have been marked to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for initiating criminal proceedings against him.

According to a communication sent by the interior ministry to the commerce ministry, the parent department of Mr Rasool, he is accused of taking Rs250,000 bribe each from 44 Chinese nationals for grant of exit permits.

Mr Rasool is also accused of extending visas to the same Chinese nationals on bogus documents using the names of different companies.

Khalid Rasool accused of issuing exit permits to Chinese in return for Rs11m

He also faces a charge of facilitating the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), an INGO operating in Pakistan, to get an MoU signed for one year despite the fact that stakeholders EAD, ISI and IB had raised concerns over its activities.

“With respect to point No 1.i, MOFA & ISI have conveyed to this ministry that Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan has shared with the DG, China, MoFA that Mr Khalid Rasool, the then Joint Secretary of (Pol./FIA), Mol has taken a bribe @ Rs250,000/- per case from 44 Chinese nationals for grant of exit permit,” the letter, a copy of which is available with Dawn, reads.

The letter further says that inquiries have further been marked to the FIA for criminal proceedings and detailed inquiry about two other charges of fraudulent visa extensions and facilitation to an INGO with dubious credentials, wherein Khalid Rasool’s role has been established.

“Considering the above charges, the officer has been surrendered from MOI to the Establishment Division. It is strongly recommended that the officer may be kept away from sensitive assignments involving financial autonomy/secrecy. In view of the above, the ministry of commerce is requested to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the officer on account of inefficiency, bribery/misconduct under E&D Rules, 2020,” the letter says.

A copy of the charge sheet against the accused containing the same allegations has also been annexed with the letter.

“.....You are liable to disciplinary action under rule 3 of the government servants’ efficiency and discipline rules, 2020, which may involve imposition of penalty of dismissal from service under rule 4 of the rules,” the charge sheet reads.

The accused has been asked to file a written statement in his defence explaining why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.

Earlier, the ministry had surrendered its section officer (Civil Defence) on the charge of demanding Rs1.8 million as bribe for issuing an NOC for a bullet-proof vehicle from a private company.

Yet another section officer dealing with the CDA affairs was also surrendered a few months ago.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2021