ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court has directed the Chief Collector (Customs) Airports, Islamabad, to decide a pending application within 30 days filed against customs officials for alleged illegal detention of an international passenger, confiscation of mobile phones and misuse of authority by customs officers. In this regard, a two-member bench of the LHC has issued an order to the Chief Collector (Customs) Airports, Islamabad. The case is related to the unlawful detention of an international incoming passenger at the Faisalabad Airport and allegations against customs officers for taking bribe and unlawful recovery of mobile phones from the passenger. The passenger was arrested and subsequently released on bail. Applications were submitted to the Grievance Redressal Commission and Pakistan Citizen Portal for taking action against the involved customs officials but all in vain. A two-member bench comprising Justice Khalid Ishaq and Justice Malik Javid Iqbal Wains issued the order while hearing a constitutional petition filed by Mehwish Abbas. During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioner, Chaudhry Muhammad Qasim Advocate, informed the court that the petitioner had submitted an application on August 9, 2025 regarding his grievance, but the matter had not yet been decided by the relevant authority. He requested the court to direct the concerned official to decide the application at the earliest. Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa, appearing on court notice, raised no objection to the issuance of such directions. After hearing the arguments, the court directed respondent No.3, the Chief Collector (Customs) Airports, Islamabad, to decide the pending application within 30 days in accordance with law after providing the petitioner and other concerned parties an opportunity of personal hearing. The court disposed of the petition with these directions. Details revealed that an alleged attempt to suppress an investigation to protect officials involved in a case of misuse of authority by officers of the Customs Department of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has come to light. The Lahore High Court has directed the Chief Collector Customs Airports Islamabad to decide the matter in accordance with the law within 30 days after providing all parties an opportunity of personal hearing. To ensure implementation of the court’s orders, the petitioner Mehwish Abbas has also written a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, Rashid Mahmood Langrial. According to copies of the Lahore High Court’s decision and the letter written by the petitioner to the FBR chairman, the petitioner has demanded action against FBR officials allegedly involved in misuse of authority. In the application submitted to the FBR chairman, Mehwish Abbas alleged that two Inspectors and a Constable misused their official powers and violated the law. The application stated that FIR No. 102/25 dated March 13, 2025 was registered at a police station of the Federal Investigation Agency in Faisalabad regarding the matter. It further said that after registration of the case, forensic examination of the mobile phones of the concerned officials was conducted, which allegedly revealed evidence regarding their conduct and administrative irregularities. According to the petitioner’s allegations, a complaint had also been submitted to Chief Collector Customs Hassan Saqib about six to seven months earlier, but despite several reminders no effective action was taken. Subsequently, the petitioner approached the Lahore High Court, which on February 25, 2026, in Constitutional Petition No. 12180/2026, directed the authorities to complete departmental proceedings against the officials and issue a clear and detailed order within 30 days. In the application, the FBR chairman has been requested to immediately take notice of the matter in light of the court’s directions, complete departmental proceedings against the concerned officials and issue a clear decision regarding the alleged misconduct so that disciplinary action can be taken against those responsible. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026