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A Customs official from Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has been dismissed following an investigation that revealed his involvement in the smuggling of mobile phones. An FIR has been filed against both him and his brother in connection with the illegal activity.
The incident unfolded on March 30, 2025, when two GB Customs officials traveling in a private vehicle were involved in an accident near Bisham. Local police, upon investigating the scene, discovered 210 mobile phones and other items in the vehicle.
One of the officials, Hafiz Muhammad Nazim Butt, who was in charge of making arrests, was seriously injured and is currently receiving medical treatment at PIMS Islamabad. His colleague, Upper Division Clerk (UDC) Muhammad Abu Bakr, was unharmed.
Initially, smugglers attempted to claim that the recovered phones were part of a larger batch of 17,613 mobile phones worth approximately Rs. 500 million, which had recently been seized by GB Customs. However, a subsequent recount at the Customs warehouse confirmed that the seized phones were intact, with none missing.
Investigations uncovered that the dismissed official’s brother, who is involved in smuggling, had been present at the accident scene. The Customs official had allegedly acted as a carrier for the smuggled phones, purchasing them from the black market. Afterward, his brother took possession of the phones from the authorities.
In light of these findings, the official was issued a show cause notice and dismissed from his position. An FIR has been registered against both him and his brother. The investigation into the arresting officer, Hafiz Muhammad Nazim Butt, is ongoing, as his involvement will be clarified during the criminal proceedings. Further action will be taken if necessary.
