FAISALABAD, Dec 18: Textile exports have shown a decline of 38 per cent in the first four months of the current fiscal. The decline shows non-competitiveness of Pakistani textiles owing to high production cost and export facilitation disparities in South Asian region.

This was claimed by Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Chairman Rana Arif Tauseef while talking to the press here on Sunday.

He apprehended that the textile exports would further decrease if immediate steps were not taken by the government.

He said exports of textile fabrics in June this year were 328 million square meters (msqm) and went down by nine per cent to 302 msqm in July. In August, they further declined to 273 msqm, indicating 10 per cent decrease over July. In September, the fabrics exports were 264 msqm, down by another three per cent over August and in October there was sharp a decline of 24 per cent (204 msqm).

Regarding export facilitation disparities in South Asia, the PTEA chairman said in Bangladesh exporters were enjoying 10-year tax holiday. There were no levies like oldage benefits, social security, and gratuity there.

“Labour is cheaper and import of raw material and spare parts is also duty free there,” Mr Tauseef said.

policemen booked: As many as 195 police officials, including the SP investigation and an ASP, were booked on charges of rape, abduction, corruption, death in custody, abuse of powers, misappropriation of valuables and illegal detention during the first 10 months of the year.

According to information gleaned by this correspondent, some 77 cases were registered against police officials out of which 23 were registered under sections 155 and 156; 16 on charges of dashing entries into houses, looting valuables and torturing the inmates; 14 for illegal custody; 12 for misappropriation of recovered goods; six of corruption, five for providing an opportunity to outlaws for an escape; and two each for torture to death in custody and land grabbing.

Out of the total registered cases, 29 were cancelled for want of evidence and the accused policemen declared innocent. Chargesheets of 21 cases were submitted to courts for trial, while 15 cases are under investigation.

A case registered on the orders of the additional district and sessions judge against SI Ghulam Rasool, ASI Ashraf and constable Khalid Mahmood for removing a criminal case file has been declared ‘untraceable’.

As many as 18 booked police officials have been dismissed from service; 44 are under suspension while the rest are performing their duties and enjoying luxurious posts.

One of the accused, SP investigation Abdullah Khalid Warraich, was booked under sections 155 and 343 PPC for keeping Asim Yousaf, the spouse of rape victim Sonia Naz, in illegal detention.

A case was registered against SP Khalid Warraich and inspector Jamshed Iqbal Chishti with the Sattukatla police station, Lahore, for kidnapping, raping, disgracing and keeping Sonia in illegal detention. Both the officials were suspended from service.

Those who have been booked include ASP Amir Wains; inspectors Riasat Ali, Ghulam Mohammad, Mohammad Yaqoob, Waheed Shahid, Malik Tariq, Mohammad Usman, Mohammad Younas, Nasrullah, Jamshed Iqbal Chishti, Lal Khan, Abid Husain and Sajjad Ali; and sub-inspectors Mohammad Haneef, Mohammad Akram, Abdul Ghafoor, Mushtaq Ahmad, Abdul Razzaq, Khizar Hayat, Ataullah, Ghulam Rasool, Mohammad Ayub, Abid Ali, Asghar Ali, Mohammad Ashraf, Mudassar Nawaz, Abdul Majeed, Riaz Ahmad, Ghulam Mohammad, Mushtaq Ahmad, Shaukat Ali, Zafar Ahmad, Nawaz, Riaz, Shaukat Ali, Liaquat Ali, Zafar Iqbal, Khalid Husain, Wali Mohammad, Rana Umer Draz, Nasrullah, Sher Mohammad Lali, Mohammad Razzaq, Jawed Akram, Adnan Rasheed, Ghulam Mohammad and Sikandar Ali.