Customs Official Dismissed for Allegedly Smuggling Mobile Phones

A Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Customs official has been dismissed after an inquiry confirmed his involvement in smuggling mobile phones, while a first information report (FIR) has been registered against him and his brother. On March 30, 2025, two GB Customs officials traveling in a private vehicle met with an accident near Bisham. Local police recovered 210 mobile phones and other items from the scene, according to an official press release. One of the officials, Hafiz Muhammad Nazim Butt, an arresting officer, sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment at PIMS Islamabad, while the other, Upper Division Clerk (UDC) Muhammad Abu Bakr, remained unharmed. Following the incident, smugglers falsely claimed that the recovered phones were part of the 17,613 mobile phones worth approximately Rs. 500 million seized by GB Customs in recent weeks. However, a recount at the Customs warehouse confirmed that all seized phones remained intact. Investigations revealed that a customs official’s brother, who is involved in smuggling, was present at the time of the incident. The customs official was found to be acting as a carrier for smuggled goods, having purchased the recovered mobile phones from the black market. His brother later took possession of them from the police. With his involvement confirmed, the official was issued a show cause notice for dismissal, and an FIR was lodged against him and his brother. Meanwhile, the role of arresting officer Hafiz Muhammad Nazim Butt remains unclear due to his medical condition. His involvement will be determined during criminal proceedings, with further action to be taken if necessary.