RAHIM YAR KHAN: Excise and Taxation Department (ETD) officials illegally seized a significant quantity of ethanol worth millions of rupees from two oil tankers on the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5). The incident reportedly occurred on April 14.

Rehmat Wardag, a member of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and CEO of Shad and Co Carriage Transport Company, told a press conference here on Sunday that the oil tankers, with complete documentation for export purposes and seals of local excise office, were transporting ethanol from a Sheikhupura factory to the Karachi port. When the drivers stopped for rest at Muhammadpur rest area, they were confronted by Excise Inspector Rafiullah and three other employees, who were present there despite being posted at an ethanol plant in Manthar, located in Sadiqabad tehsil.

The excise officials, accusing the drivers, including Faheem, of stealing the ethanol, began physically assaulting them. They then made the drivers to take the vehicles out of M-5 via Iqbalabad Interchange, after which the tankers were parked at an isolated area. One of the drivers managed to contact the company administration.

Wardag said he immediately reached out to the Rahim Yar Khan excise and taxation officer (ETO) Rana Shahbaz Sarwar Khan for assistance who said that if any ETD official or employee stopped any vehicle, he informed him (ETO) in advance. He said the ETO sought time to contact his staff.

Subsequently, the ETO confirmed through a WhatsApp voice message that no oil tanker had been checked or stopped by his team.

Wardag said Rafiullah did not inform the National Highway and Motorway Police nor reported the matter to the Iqbalabad police, which was mandatory for excise officials conducting vehicle inspections.

Wardag said Rafiullah, along with his colleagues, took the drivers in his car to a petrol pump and later held them captive in a room at the Iqbalabad police station for four to five hours. During this time, Rafiullah allegedly stole approximately 18 tons of ethanol from both tankers.

Following the theft, Rafiullah took one of the tankers to the Iqbalabad police station and threatened the drivers, instructing them to take the vehicles onto M-5 and overturn them. This action, Wardag claimed, was intended to eliminate any evidence of his theft, while the carrier would be able to claim insurance. He said Rafiullah offered Rs 200,000 each to the two drivers but they refused.

As per Wardag’s claims, the drivers weighed the vehicles at a nearby weighbridge on his instructions to know the exact size of the theft.

Despite Wardag’s attempts to address the situation by submitting applications to the director-general of excise and the ETO, he received no response or resolution.

He said he was now left with a business loss of approximately Rs5.6 million. Attempts to contact ETO Rana Shahbaz Sarwar Khan remained unsuccessful, as he did not answer the calls nor responded to the text message seeking his stance on the matter.

When journalists contacted the Iqbalabad police Moharar Elahi Baksh, he confirmed that the ETD officials with some persons had visited them on April 14.

He said the excise officials officials took the unknown people to a room at the upper story and remained there for some time. They did not lodge any case nor disclosed their identity.

An officer of the NHMP said it was mandatory on the part of excise officials to inform them before checking any vehicle .

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2023