Latest news with #Anti-CorruptionDepartment
Express Tribune
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Notice issued to NAB over 'unlawful arrest
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued a notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in response to a writ petition filed against the arrest of a suspect involved in the Kohistan financial scandal, despite the suspect's submission of a voluntary return application. A division bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Farah Jamshed heard the petition filed by Muhammad Riaz. During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Advocate Aminur Rehman Yousafzai, informed the court that NAB was investigating the Kohistan scandal and had issued a call-up notice to his client. He stated that NAB had informed his client that he could opt for a plea bargain by submitting a voluntary return application. Following this, his client submitted the application on May 16, 2025. However, NAB issued another call-up notice on July 2, 2025, summoning him again. When the petitioner appeared before NAB on July 11, he was taken into custody, without a decision being made on his earlier application, the lawyer said. He further argued that the arrest was unlawful and caused his client severe mental distress. Subsequently, his client was presented before an accountability court, which granted NAB an eight-day physical remand. Citing the 2022 amendments to the NAB laws, the counsel contended that under Section 24, a person can only be arrested if they fail to appear before NAB, attempt to flee the country, tamper with prosecution records, or are found to be reoffending. He emphasized that none of these conditions applied to his client and that a decision on the voluntary return application was legally required before any arrest. He accused NAB of misusing its authority and requested the court to declare the arrest illegal and order his client's release. After hearing the preliminary arguments, the two-member bench issued a notice to NAB and adjourned further proceedings until July 29. Meanwhile, PHC has rejected the bail application of Assistant Food Controller Khalid Khan, who was arrested in connection with a major wheat embezzlement scandal. The case was heard by a single-member bench headed by Chief Justice Justice SM Atiq Shah. During the hearing, the defense counsel argued that the FIR against his client had been registered by the Anti-Corruption Department without any substantial evidence, and therefore, requested the court to release the accused on bail. However, Additional Advocate General Muhammad Inam Yusufzai informed the court that the accused, Khalid Khan, serving as Assistant Food Controller, had colluded with other individuals to embezzle 1,700 metric tons of wheat from the government warehouse in Azakhel, Nowshera. The misappropriation caused a loss of Rs200 million to the national exchequer. He further stated that an inquiry was conducted, and a case was subsequently registered by the Anti-Corruption Department. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Anti-Corruption Court had earlier dismissed the bail plea on the basis of strong evidence against the accused. After hearing both sides, the High Court also dismissed the bail petition, maintaining the previous ruling.
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
KMC targets over 170 illegal plot allotments
The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has initiated the cancellation of over 170 irregularly leased and illegally converted plots in the Orangi Township Project. This action follows the directives of Mayor Murtaza Wahab, in response to complaints regarding unauthorised allotments of amenity and other public plots during 2019 and 2020. Wahab has directed a comprehensive review of all suspicious allotment cases within the project. As part of this directive, the process of cancellation has already commenced, with investigations underway to determine the extent of violations and misuse of authority. Additionally, cases involving abuse of official powers have been referred to the Anti-Corruption Department for a thorough and transparent inquiry. This step underscores KMC's commitment to rooting out corruption and reclaiming public land from unlawful occupation. The mayor has also directed that following the cancellation of these plots, legal action must be initiated to recover the government land and secure its fair market value for public benefit.
Express Tribune
30-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Departmental spending exceeds budget
Despite a projected budget deficit exceeding Rs38 billion for the upcoming financial year, most Sindh government departments have shown little willingness towards effectively controlling expenditures. Budget documents have revealed that several departments have overspent their allocated budgets during the current fiscal year, with additional expenses mostly attributed to non-productive categories such as fuel, operational costs, and allowances. Among the major over spenders, the Sindh Assembly Secretariat used Rs871 million against an allocation of Rs760 million, with Rs371 million spent on fuel alone. The Chief Minister's House exceeded its budget of Rs1.32 billion by spending Rs1.63 billion. The Anti-Corruption Department went beyond its allocation of Rs1.65 billion and spent over Rs2 billion. Similarly, the Energy Department, allocated Rs62.4 billion, ended up spending Rs68.2 billion. The Transport Department recorded the highest overspending. Against an allocation of Rs7.61 billion, it spent Rs11.03 billion, reportedly due to the procurement of new buses for Karachi. Similarly, the Education Works Department, responsible for construction and maintenance of school buildings, spent Rs10.21 billion, which is Rs2 billion more than its allocation of Rs8.2 billion. Likewise, the Board of Revenue also exceeded its allocation of Rs8.94 billion slightly, spending Rs9.10 billion. The Local Government Department overspent by Rs2 billion as well. Critics have argued that most of these excesses are unnecessary and avoidable, primarily related to perks and fuel allowances. Tighter administrative controls and meaningful legislative debate could significantly reduce wasteful spending. According to Dr Ikramul Haq, an economist, if the federal government provided Sindh with its full share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, Sindh government might not even need to incur additional expenditures. "This time as well, the federal government has given Rs250 billion less to Sindh, Provinces including Sindh prepare their budgets based on projected income for the coming year, which includes funds expected from the federal government. When the federal government does not provide provinces with their due share, the provinces are inevitably forced to make additional expenditures," explained Dr Haq. It is worth noting that during the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, Sindh's government departments incurred an additional expenditure of Rs156 billion. The Sindh government recently had this amount approved as a supplementary budget by the Sindh Assembly. Among Deputy Commissioners (DCs), the most notable overspending was reported in Umerkot, Thatta, Qambar Shahdadkot, Mithi, Matiari, and Sanghar. For instance, DC Umerkot spent Rs140 million against a Rs116 million allocation, and DC Thatta spent Rs165 million against a Rs148 million budget. According to a senior official from the Sindh Finance Department, many government institutions habitually overspend, and the Finance Department incorporates these figures into supplementary budgets, which are then approved by the Sindh Assembly, often without much scrutiny. "In the aftermath of the 18th Amendment, with a higher share from the National Finance Commission (NFC), provinces like Sindh have gained financial autonomy, reducing central oversight and enabling such expenditures with little resistance," said the official. Journalist Muneer Saqi, who has long reported on Sindh Assembly proceedings, noted that, in principle, these additional expenditures should be debated in the Assembly. "In practice, however, the ruling party uses its majority to get them approved along with the annual budget, side-lining accountability," claimed Saqi. The problem of overspending, however, is not limited to provincial departments since divisional and district administrative offices are also reporting significant budget overruns.
Express Tribune
24-03-2025
- Express Tribune
Two govt employees accused of extorting money from citizens
Separate cases have been registered against the superintendent of a government hospital and a sanitary patrol official of the health department for extorting money from two citizens, including a widow, on the pretext of getting them recruited in the health department. In the case registered with the Anti-Corruption Department, Abdul Jabbar Shah, a resident of 246 GB Gojra, has alleged that Muhammad Tayyab Saleem, a sanitary patrol posted at the Rural Health Center Landianwala, received a bribe of Rs900,000 and threatened to kill the complainant in case the bribe was not paid. However, the complainant alleged that despite receiving the bribe Muhammad Tayyab Saleem failed to recruit his family members as workers in the government health unit. Additionally, a widow, Muqaddas Parveen, paid Rs380,000 to Zia Al-Mustafa, resident of 203 Rabmananwala, posted at the Kharianwala Government Hospital to get a job in the Health Department. But the Superintendent of the Government Hospital, Zia Al-Mustafa, did not recruit her. The victim Muqaddas Parveen, she was working as a private polio worker for the Health Department. In order to make her permanent, the accused Zia Mustafa first took a bribe of Rs200,000 and later Rs180,000 and did not get her hired. The anti-corruption police registered cases against both government employees and started searching for them. Separately, a case has been registered against 90 people for raising slogans while blocking the road in Aminpur Bazaar. SHO Kotwali, Sub-Inspector Muhammad Umar Chheena took the stand in the case filed that he was present in Aminpur Bazaar, when the accused, Muhammad Usman Abdul Azim, Muhammad Bilal, Ramzan Rashid, Qari Faizan and their accomplices were carrying sticks and banners, blocked the road, raised slogans and incited the emotions of the people, creating a serious law and order problem. The police have registered a case against the accused who blocked the road and have started searching for them.
Express Tribune
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Case filed against official over embezzlement
The Anti-Corruption Establishment has filed a case against a Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development & Management Company (FIEDMC) assistant manager for allegedly embezzling the budget for lights installed on electric poles. A budget of Rs182 million was kept for installing lights on 1,200 poles in the FIEDMC Industrial Area, while the inspection of the lights installed on the poles revealed that copper wires were not used during the installation of the lights and only Rs121 million has been paid out of the budget. Defective lights have been installed in FIEDMC due to the alleged irresponsibility and corruption of Assistant Manager Tauseef Akram. A case has been registered against the accused and action has been initiated. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Department has registered cases and launched a search for ten individuals, including three private employees, a former SHO of Saddar police station, an ASI, and a Moharrar, on charges of embezzling a pickup vehicle tampering with official documents, and taking a bribe from a citizen. The case was registered through the court at the Anti-Corruption police station on the complaint of Aamir Iqbal, a resident of Faisal Valley, Canal Road, who holds Canadian nationality. According to the FIR, Aamir Iqbal's Revo pickup (No. 1559) was impounded at Saddar police station. On January 27, the area magistrate of Saddar police station jurisdiction approved the vehicle's release upon the submission of a surety bond. After submitting the bond, Aamir approached the former SHO and Moharrar of Saddar police station, who directed him to meet ASI Tanveer in this matter. However, the ASI, in collusion with others, handed over his vehicle to a private individual, Rana Danish Khan, to attend a wedding, after which the vehicle was not returned. The accused police officers, in collusion with Rana Danish Khan, misappropriated the vehicle by exceeding their authority. Following an investigation, the Anti-Corruption Department registered a case under sections 409, 5/2/47 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and initiated proceedings. In another case, Saqib Jahangir, a resident of Saleemi Park, Lahore Road, Jaranwala, who is a school teacher, accused Sub-Inspector Ajmal Baig, ASI Iqbal, Naib Court, and other officials of converting a family dispute case into a criminal case. The police officers, in collusion with private individuals Adnan Aslam and Faisal Aslam, filed a case against three government employees, Saqib Jahangir, Majid Jahangir, and Ayaz Aqeel and unlawfully applied section 452 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) in the FIR. They also tampered with the supplementary challan before submitting it to the court. Due to this manipulation of official records, the Anti-Corruption Department registered a case against the accused officers. In a separate incident, Naveed Arshad, a resident of Madina Town, accused ASI Shehzad Arif of taking a bribe of Rs31,000 in exchange for the return of his stolen motorcycle. ASI Shehzad Arif allegedly demanded bribes at different times, promising to return the motorcycle, but ultimately failed to do so. Upon inquiry, the allegations were proven, and the Anti-Corruption Department registered a case against the accused and initiated a search for them.
