Latest news with #Anti-CorruptionEstablishment
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Top RDA officials summoned in massive scandal
The Punjab chief secretary has taken notice of the alleged major financial scandal amounting to Rs1.94 billion in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and summoned RDA Director General (DG) Kinza Murtaza to appear before a special inquiry committee in Lahore. There are strong indications that she may be removed from her post and made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Investigations into the scandal are already underway by both the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Anti-Corruption Establishment. According to sources, between 2016 and 2017, payments totalling Rs1.94 billion were made to various companies and individuals from the RDA's account through Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs). These bank transactions were never scrutinised by the then DGs or directors of admin and finance, who held signing authority during the period in question. This complete lack of oversight paralysed the financial discipline and transparency mechanisms within the RDA, sources said. The malpractice remained unchecked until the first week of May 2025, when newly appointed Director Admin and Finance, Qazi Sohaib, initiated a probe and uncovered the irregularities. In a related development, former Deputy Director Finance Junaid Taj Bhattiwho was then serving as DG Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) in Sialkotdied under mysterious circumstances on May 13 in his Sialkot office. Following the discovery, the RDA DG first wrote to the Punjab secretary for housing seeking permission to formally begin an internal inquiry. However, before receiving a response, she proceeded to send letters to the DG of Punjab Anti-Corruption Department and NAB chairman, and DG FIA, requesting their involvement in the investigation. This move reportedly angered the relevant provincial secretary, who expressed strong displeasure in a video link meeting over the matter being forwarded to external agencies prematurely, sources said. Meanwhile, NAB has acquired the relevant records and launched a formal investigation. On June 3, the Anti-Corruption Establishment's regional director in Rawalpindi summoned and recorded statements from 13 current and retired RDA officers and employees. Sources indicate that the DG may be removed from her position and reassigned as OSD after her appearance before the committee.
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Millers refuse to buy 'contaminated' wheat
The flour mills in the Rawalpindi district have submitted a formal complaint to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), protesting against the persistent pressure exerted by the Rawalpindi Food Department to forcibly purchase 32,000 allegedly foul-smelling sacks of wheat. The mills have firmly refused to buy the wheat under any circumstances and have demanded that the wheat be inspected and laboratory tested at the Wheat Storage Centre in Rawalpindi. Details suggest that last year, severe complaints were received from flour mills regarding the contamination of wheat stored in government warehouses in Rawalpindi, with reports of soil and water mixing with the wheat. In response, the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Punjab chapter formally lodged a written complaint with the Secretary of the Punjab Food Department. Consequently, the Director of Food Punjab constituted an inquiry team, which confirmed the allegations upon visiting Rawalpindi. However, despite a year having passed, no responsible individuals have been identified or held accountable for the corruption involved. Despite the Rawalpindi flour mills depositing over Rs35 million into the government treasury, officials posted at PR Centre 3 have refused to supply wheat to the mills. The mills have been told to either accept the wheat mixed with dirt, rotting, and foul-smelling, or wait for two months. The mill owners argue that they haven't conducted business with any private company or individual but have followed the law by depositing the required amount in the government treasury. They assert that the wheat should have been delivered the same day the payment was made, in accordance with the law. If government departments continue to mistreat businesspeople, the question arises: who will do business in this country? The staff posted at the PR Centre 3 in the federal capital was previously implicated and proven guilty of similar charges three years ago, resulting in some punishments. However, those officers were reinstated and reassigned to the same centre. The ACE in Rawalpindi confirmed receiving the complaint from the flour mills and stated that action will be taken after the Eidul Fitr holidays. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Food, Ghulam Abbas, claims the wheat isn't spoiled or rotting, but only contains soil, which they are willing to sift and provide.
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.
Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Medicine theft scandal uncovered in Dera Ghazi Khan
A major scandal involving the theft and illegal sale of government medicines has been uncovered in Dera Ghazi Khan, leading to the arrest of eight individuals, including Health Department employees. According to officials, the arrests followed the interception of a government employee, Parvez, who was caught smuggling government medicines to Peshawar. Authorities recovered medicines worth millions of rupees. The case, registered under an FIR at the Gadai police station, has been transferred to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) and senior health officials for further investigation. Over the past two days, an investigative team led by ACE Circle Officer Malik Abdul Majid and Chief Drug Inspector Faisal Mehmood Khan raided the Basic Health Unit in Sarwarwali. Large quantities of medicines, including Diagnostic Testing Laboratory (DTL) supplies, were seized. Three rooms at the Sarwarwali Health Centre and two rooms at the District Health Office have been sealed as part of the probe. Health Department sources revealed that the stolen medicines included 1,400 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) supplements for malnourished children, with an estimated value of Rs1 billion. Preliminary investigations indicate that a widespread network of individuals, including government health officials, has been smuggling medicines from hospitals and selling them in Peshawar, Lahore, and Quetta. The ring, operating for the past six years, allegedly obtained medicines through corrupt deals with employees at various hospitals and health centers across the country. The Anti-Corruption Establishment has arrested key suspects, including Ali Usman and Zafar from Lahore, and Parvez, Ikramullah, Athar Sheerani, Bashir Ahmed, Amir Taimur, and Siraj from Dera Ghazi Khan. The accused were presented before Area Magistrate Muhammad Ashan, where the investigation officer requested a 12-day remand. However, the court granted only a two-day physical remand, requiring the suspects to be produced again on March 8. Authorities have indicated that more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Express Tribune
Illegal housing schemes mushrooming
KOTRI: The Sehwan Development Authority (SDA) in Jamshoro has drawn public flak for its failure to curb the mushroom growth of illegal housing schemes, despite increasing complaints from the public. As many as 245 illegal housing projects have escaped official notices from the authority, while the SDA administration remains largely unresponsive. The SDA's director general (DG) and senior officials have allegedly not attended office for several months, leaving over 300 employees unpaid for the last nine months. This has sparked protests by the staff, further crippling the SDA's operations. Assistant Director of SDA Master Plan Shabbir Ahmed Soomro claimed that notices were sent to several illegal housing schemes in areas such as Kotri City, SITE, Jamshoro, M-9 Luni Kot, Nooriabad, and Sehwan. These schemes were warned to halt operations and complete the legal formalities with the SDA. Besides issuing notices, the SDA launched advertisement campaigns in newspapers to raise public awareness, warning buyers and plot owners about these illegal schemes. However, the owners of these schemes have not only ignored the warnings but have stepped up their marketing efforts, selling plots and extorting millions of rupees without acquiring the NOC from the authority. Soomro further claimed that fresh notices would soon be issued, stressing that housing schemes are required to pay Rs29,000 per acre in fees, including Rs9,000 for scrutiny and Rs20,000 for the NOC. The SDA has also sought help from the Anti-Corruption Establishment in Jamshoro to take action against these illegal practices. The SDA has not only struggled to curb illegal housing schemes but also failed to deliver on its own projects. Notices have been issued to allottees of SDA's housing schemes to clear outstanding dues, obtain missing files, or complete file transfers. Those who fail to comply risk having their files canceled.
