Revealing the real face of the alleged Corruption of Chief Collector Customs Jameel Nasir Khan

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Customs

Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement (South) Karachi, Jameel Nasir Khan, has long cultivated a reputation of uncompromising honesty and administrative efficiency. Positioned at the helm of Pakistan’s largest customs jurisdiction, he has publicly portrayed himself as a reformist championing transparency and innovation. However, emerging evidence and serious allegations paint a drastically different picture—one marked by financial impropriety, systemic corruption, and institutional exploitation.

Unmasking the Empire: Disproportionate Wealth and Assets

One of the most glaring inconsistencies in Jameel Nasir Khan’s narrative of integrity is his unexplained wealth. As per sources and historical property records, Khan owned 50 acres of land in Hujrah Shah Muqeem and multiple valuable plots in Johar Town, Lahore, as early as 2007. These assets alone raised eyebrows, but his current portfolio allegedly spans properties valued in the billions of rupees.

If one were to chart the progression of Khan’s personal wealth from the time of his induction into public service to his present standing, the growth appears far out of step with his lawful income. Transparency would demand that a full declaration and forensic audit of his assets be conducted. Until then, the origins of his fortune remain shrouded in suspicion.

 

Faisalabad Flashback: Bribes, Bags, and a Dead Whistleblower

The roots of corruption allegations against Khan trace back to his earlier posting in Faisalabad. Multiple insiders have recounted how Khan allegedly accepted bribes often concealed in cricket bags rom businessmen seeking favorable treatment in rebate and refund matters. One of the most damning incidents involved a local businessman who formally accused Khan of orchestrating a tax refund scam. Tragically, this whistleblower died of a sudden heart attack just as then-Director General Lutufullah Virk was preparing to issue arrest orders against Khan.

The timing of the whistleblower’s death and Khan’s evasion of justice was deemed too convenient by many within the department. Calls for reopening and reinvestigating the Faisalabad case have grown louder, particularly in light of current revelations.

The Green Channel Nexus at Port Qasim

As Collector of Customs at Port Qasim, Khan was entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the integrity of import clearance operations. However, this tenure is now marred by serious allegations of misconduct. He is accused of transforming the Green Channel—originally designed for low-risk, expedited cargo clearance into a conduit for smuggling and under-invoicing.

Principal Appraiser Imran and another associate, Najeeb Abid, are believed to have acted as Khan’s frontmen, soliciting bribes from importers of scrap, second-hand clothing, and other bulk cargo. This facilitated the clearance of undervalued or misdeclared goods without proper inspection, resulting in significant revenue losses for the national treasury.

The FCAS Illusion: Reform or Revenue Leak?

With the ascension of Rashid Mehmood Langrial as Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Khan was strategically appointed Chief Collector Appraisement (South). Leveraging alleged past favors—including reportedly covering up an inquiry involving Langrial’s wife Khan gained support for implementing the Faceless Customs Assessment System (FCAS).

Promoted as a transparency initiative, FCAS was intended to eliminate human discretion in assessment processes. However, the reality diverged sharply from its promise. Lacking pilot testing and phased implementation, FCAS was rushed into operation. Sources reveal that prior to its launch, the use of the Green Channel was artificially reduced, leading to backlogs and document calls. Once FCAS went live, Green Channel use surged to 84%, creating a misleading impression of streamlined operations.

What this actually accomplished was the near-eradication of mandatory examinations even for high-risk consignments leading to major smuggling and under-assessment opportunities.

Acetate Tow Scandal: PKR 1.25 Billion and Counting

Perhaps the most egregious case during Khan’s tenure involves the misdeclaration of acetate tow a raw material used in cigarette manufacturing. Five containers were cleared through the Collectorate of Customs Appraisement (East) without proper valuation or scrutiny.

Principal Appraiser R&D Imran Aslam Gull, stationed in Appraisement (East), played a central role in the process. Allegedly, both he and Khan received combined kickbacks worth PKR 1.25 billion to facilitate these clearances. The misdeclaration resulted in massive losses to the exchequer and exposed deep flaws in the FCAS structure.

Mobile Phones, Vapes, and Almonds: A Triad of Evasion

The acetate tow case is far from an anomaly. Under Khan’s watch, multiple high-value smuggling and under-invoicing cases came to light:

  • Mobile Phones and Vapes: Misdeclaration and false invoicing led to a loss of PKR 330 million. These products, due to their high taxation and regulatory controls, were deliberately routed through FCAS to bypass scrutiny.
  • American Almonds: Importers avoided approximately PKR 1.49 billion in duties by exploiting classification loopholes and FCAS’s failure to enforce mandatory document checks.

In each of these cases, the lack of examination orders and the use of preferential appraising officers further underline the alleged manipulation of the system.

Suspension, Selective FIRs, and Extortion Allegations

To divert attention from the growing criticism of FCAS and Khan’s leadership, a crackdown was launched against clearing agents. Licenses of 45 agents were suspended, and First Information Reports (FIRs) were filed. However, the process was criticized as selective and extortionate.

In one example, the firm M/s. Awan Brothers reportedly paid PKR 5 million to have its name excluded from an FIR. Allegedly, a significant portion of this payment went directly to Khan and Imran Aslam Gull. These accusations have raised serious concerns about abuse of power and the selective use of regulatory tools to suppress dissent and generate illicit income.

Corruption as a System: CAU and the Weekly “Cut”

Within FCAS, the Central Appraising Unit (CAU) has allegedly emerged as a hub of institutionalized corruption. Importers faced systematic delays unless they agreed to make “settlements” with appointed intermediaries. After receiving payments, these importers’ Goods Declarations (GDs) were fast-tracked and assigned to selected appraisers.

Sources within the Customs House allege that officials such as Quratulain Ramay and Sara Sarwar acted as collection agents, receiving weekly cuts from appraisers in exchange for preferential treatment and revenue targets. This system entrenched a parallel economy within the customs apparatus, directly undermining transparency and fairness.

Strategic Careerism: Ambitions Built on a Flawed System

With aspirations to be promoted to Grade 21 in the Central Selection Board (CSB), Khan has reportedly placed significant emphasis on showcasing FCAS as a model of innovation. He is said to be positioning himself for senior appointments in the FBR or even at international institutions like the World Bank.

However, the narrative of success is rapidly unraveling. The FCAS, instead of being a symbol of reform, is now widely viewed as a tool that facilitated large-scale corruption. Internal reports, mounting smuggling cases, and rising demurrages suggest that the system is failing its foundational purpose.

A Crisis of Credibility

The most damaging consequence of this saga is the erosion of public trust in Pakistan’s customs machinery. FCAS was introduced with promises of transparency, automation, and integrity. Instead, it has allegedly become a façade—masking a deeply compromised system where corruption is centralized, institutionalized, and enabled at the highest levels.

If left unchecked, the consequences extend beyond monetary losses. Such institutional rot deters foreign investors, stifles legitimate trade, and delegitimizes the very mechanisms meant to safeguard economic sovereignty.

The case of Chief Collector Jameel Nasir Khan serves as a cautionary tale of how unchecked authority, political patronage, and personal ambition can distort the mission of public service. From Faisalabad to Karachi, from refund scams to FCAS, the narrative is disturbingly consistent: allegations of corruption, misuse of authority, and manipulation of institutional frameworks for personal and political gain.

The inclusion of officers like Principal Appraiser Imran Aslam Gull in these schemes further underscores that the problem is not confined to a single individual. Rather, it appears to be a web of complicity spanning multiple tiers of the customs hierarchy.

A comprehensive and transparent investigation—conducted independently and free from political interference—is urgently needed. Until such accountability is enforced, any claims of reform within Pakistan’s customs framework will ring holl

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