ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday expressed strong disappointment over Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial repeatedly skipping key meetings, demanding his presence at the next session.
The committee had summoned Langrial to explain the theft of over 2,800 cartons of cigarettes, worth Rs250 million, from warehouses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa earlier this year—a case that raised serious questions about accountability within the FBR. The stolen cigarettes were reportedly taken by FBR officers themselves.
In Langrial’s absence, senior FBR official Aqeel Ahmed Siddiqui attended the meeting, citing the Chairman’s official visit to Washington for IMF talks. The committee, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan, rejected the excuse, stressing that officials must respect parliamentary oversight. “We will not tolerate this disregard for accountability,” said Awan.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is probing IR officers in Mardan and Swabi over their suspected role in stealing Kissan-brand cigarettes from warehouses in Guldasht (Mardan) and Qasam Pula (Swabi). The case began with a complaint on 18 November and was initially filed at Swabi’s Yar Hussain police station before moving to Mardan’s Regional Police Officer. The committee demanded swift resolution and full reporting at the next meeting.
On cybercrime, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) reported 161,828 complaints in 2024, with 17,717 still pending, mostly from Punjab. Senator Palwasha Khan raised concerns over alleged bribery and corruption within the agency, linking it to a high-profile case involving a YouTuber’s family. A subcommittee proposal to investigate these allegations was blocked due to ongoing inquiries.
The committee also received updates on the murder investigation of Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro’s family. Additional IG Sindh confirmed active police action, including property seizures and frozen accounts, but the committee expressed concern over slow progress, demanding a report within 20 days.
Finally, estranged PTI Senator Saifullah Abro criticized the Interior Ministry for failing to protect lawmakers, prompting Awan to order enhanced security measures.
