QUETTA: Customs deputy collector Dr Abdul Quddus Sheikh, who was severely beaten up by suspected smugglers earlier this week, is fighting for his life in the Combined Military Hospital’s intensive care unit.

Dr Quddus was attacked at Gahi Khan Chowk when he was returning home after seizing smuggled goods during an operation in the Kolpur area of Quetta.

According to customs officials, unidentified men stopped his car at gunpoint, beat him up severely and fled. They said action against the attackers had been initiated after registration of an FIR as they had challenged the writ of the state.

According to sources, the preventative working strength of the entire customs in Balochistan is below 500, with just 25 operational vehicles. Lack of resources and manpower had been a major issue facing the anti-smuggling department, though it had increased efforts against the smuggling of goods into or out of Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2019