LAHORE: A customs intelligence official who claims to be a whistle-blower has been suspended by the authority apparently in violation of the Public Interest Disclosure Act, 2017, which protects a complainant/witness against adverse actions including suspension and dismissal from service.

Syed Amir Shabbir, a sepoy in customs intelligence, was posted at the Federal Board of Revenue’s Allama Town office in Lahore when he filed a complaint with the authorities about alleged nexus of his immediate bosses with smugglers.

With his complaint, he also furnished a list of smugglers allegedly hand in glove with customs officials. Shabbir was sent on forced leave by his director, after he allegedly refused to withdraw the complaint.

He filed multiple written requests to the authorities expressing his intention to join duty, but his applications remained pending with no decision, forcing him to approach the Lahore High Court.

His lawyer, Sarfraz Ali Dayal, asked the court that the petitioner would be satisfied if a direction was issued to the FBR chairman for expeditiously passing a decision on the pending applications of his client.

Justice Shams Mahmood Mirza, on Aug 7, ordered the FBR chairman to decide the applications of Shabbir within one month from the date of receipt of certified copy of the court’s order.

However, Advocate Dayal told Dawn that the authorities already suspended the petitioner when a certified copy of the LHC order was presented to them.

An order issued by the deputy director (HQ) of intelligence and investigation-customs bearing handwritten date of Aug 13, says Shabbir has been suspended with immediate effect for a period of 120 days.

The section 10 of the Public Interest Disclosure Act, 2017 says the government shall ensure that neither any adverse action shall be taken against a complainant nor shall he be victimised by initiation of any proceedings or otherwise merely on the ground that he made a disclosure or rendered assistance in inquiry.

It further says a person shall be considered victimised if dismissed, suspended, denied promotion, harassed etc by his employer or fellow workers.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2024