The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has constituted a high-level inquiry committee to investigate nine Pakistan Customs officers over the alleged theft of seized silver from the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Quetta.
According to an official order issued by the Revenue Division, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, acting as the competent authority under the Civil Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2020, approved the formation of a three-member committee to conduct disciplinary proceedings against the accused officials.
The committee will be headed by Ashraf Zubair Siddiqui (PSP/BS-21), Additional Inspector General and Regional Commander (North Region) of the National Highways and Motorway Police. Its members include Abrar Ahmed Mirza (PAS/BS-21), Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, and Ashhad Jawwad (PCS/BS-21), Member Customs Policy at the FBR.
The inquiry relates to the alleged theft of confiscated silver recovered during anti-smuggling operations in Balochistan while it was in the custody of the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Quetta.
Among the officers facing disciplinary proceedings is Dr. Karam Elahi (PCS/BS-20), the then Collector of Customs Enforcement, Quetta, who is currently in FIA custody and has already been suspended by the FBR.
Other accused officials include former Additional Collector Yousaf Ali Khan Magsi, Deputy Collector Tariq Hussain, Assistant Collector Muhammad Yousaf, Preventive Officers Samiullah, Arif Ali Jumani and Yasir Arafat, Inspector Customs Ali Kamran, and Inspector Muhammad Zaman Mazari.
The inquiry order stated that four officials — Dr. Karam Elahi, Assistant Collector Muhammad Yousaf, and Preventive Officers Samiullah and Arif Ali Jumani — are currently under suspension.
The government has also appointed Muhammad Imran Khan Mohmand (PCS/BS-21), Director General of the Directorate General of Reforms & Automation (Customs), as the Hearing Officer for the proceedings, while the Chief Collector of Customs Enforcement, Islamabad, will act as the Departmental Representative.
The inquiry committee has been directed to complete the proceedings within 60 days, unless an extension is approved by the competent authority. After completion, the committee will submit its report to the Prime Minister through the competent authority within seven days, stating whether the charges are proved or not proved and recommending exoneration or penalties accordingly.
The disciplinary action follows the high-profile 400-kilogram silver theft case, considered one of the biggest scandals involving Pakistan Customs in recent years.
The case emerged in April 2026 when a consignment containing 688 kilograms of seized silver, packed in 36 sealed boxes, was sent from the Collectorate of Customs Enforcement, Quetta, to the Pakistan Mint in Lahore for testing and official deposit.
The silver had been confiscated during anti-smuggling operations in Balochistan’s Chagai district and was transported under Customs supervision. However, upon arrival at the Pakistan Mint, officials discovered that around 400 kilograms of silver had allegedly been replaced with lead bricks.
Following the discovery, Pakistan Customs launched an internal investigation. The inquiry reportedly found that CCTV footage from Safe City Quetta showed the vehicle carrying the original silver being allegedly swapped during transit with another vehicle carrying lead bricks.
An FIR was registered, and two Preventive Officers — Arif Ali Jumani and Samiullah Achakzai — were arrested over alleged involvement in the incident.
The case later expanded into a broader investigation into possible negligence or involvement of senior Customs officials responsible for the custody, security and transportation of the seized precious metal. Several officers were suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry.
