Merchant reports financial losses and retaliation measures; seeks intervention from interior minister
ISLAMABAD:
Serious allegations have emerged against Nafeesa Kiran, food safety officer at the Islamabad Food Authority (IFA), including accusations of demanding bribes, abuse of authority and carrying out retaliatory actions that allegedly caused serious financial and psychological difficulties to a local trader.
The affected trader, Muhammad Ahmed, has released a video statement detailing the allegations and has also threatened to take his own life. He has appealed to Federal Minister for Home Affairs and Narcotics Control Syed Mohsin Naqvi to immediately take cognizance of the matter.
According to Ahmed, he has been in the milk supply business for several years and has complied with all legal and regulatory requirements. Despite this, he alleges that he has been subject to continuous harassment by the aforementioned Food Authority official.
The trader claims that milk worth approximately Rs 400,000 was destroyed without any formal notice and without samples being taken for laboratory tests, resulting in significant financial losses.
In his video statement, the trader questioned why he had been granted a trade license if his milk was allegedly adulterated and, conversely, where were the laboratory samples and test reports if the milk was indeed of poor quality.
He further stated that no test report or copy of sample analysis has been provided to him till date. Ahmed also alleged that certain Food Authority officials pressured him to pay bribes and upon his refusal, strict and punitive action was taken against him.
According to the trader, these alleged retaliatory measures led to a steady decline in his business, leaving him with debts amounting to approximately Rs 5 million.
He said persistent police actions and increasing psychological pressure had brought him to a point where he was contemplating suicide.
The development came a day after the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) arrested three traders for producing and selling adulterated milk in Rawalpindi. During the operations, three traders involved in adulteration were caught and cases were registered against the traders. According to a spokesperson, the PFA Directorate General carried out inspections at the motorway toll plaza and various locations in Rawalpindi, during which 2,700 liters of adulterated and unsafe milk were removed.
The food authority teams inspected a total of four milk shops on Sixth Road, Kuri Road and Sohan. Cases were registered against three of these shops, while three other milk shops were sealed for adulteration. Additionally, two piles of vegetable oil used in milk adulteration were recovered and destroyed. The spokesperson added that 15,000 liters of milk transported in three tank vehicles were checked at the highway toll. Those involved in adulteration of milk and preparation of unsafe milk using harmful chemicals would be dealt with strictly according to the law.
