Hoarders to face summary trials, three-year prison: Minister

Federal Minister for Law and Justice Farogh Naseem on Sunday said that Covid-19 Prevention of Smuggling Ordinance 2020 to curb smuggling of foreign currency and essential items have been drafted and sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan for approval.

It is pertinent to mention that the federal government on Friday had approved an ordinance ‘Covid-19 Prevention of Hoarding Ordinance 2020’ against hoarding essential food items and goods which had already been come into force.

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Addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday, the law minister said smuggling of the essential items like sugar, wheat, potato and foreign currency including dollars amid Covid-19 pandemic through undeclared routes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to Afghanistan or from Punjab’s porous border to India would be dealt with strictly.

He said that the ordinance would get approval by Monday or Tuesday.

The Prevention of Smuggling Ordinance 2020 ordinance focal department is customs departments but FBR can nominate any agency including FIA, ISI, Navy coast guards, Intelligence Bureau and delegate powers to curb the smuggling.

He said in 18 months the Law Ministry has been asked for 60,500 legal advices and except 5-10 all references were answered.

 Naseem said these emergency laws will provide a legal framework for Covid-19.

He warned that hoarders could be punished for three years after summary trials as per the ordinance approved.

Parliamentary Secretary for Law and Justice Malaika Bukhari addressing the newsmen said that the Law Ministry has been putting all-out efforts to bring ordinances on time amid Covid-19 crisis.