Under investigation: NAB team probes alleged corruption in forest department

NAB team visits DI Khan, confiscates records containing details about auction of trees.


Our Correspondent November 02, 2013
NAB team probes alleged corruption in forest department. PHOTO: FILE

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A three-member team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) visited DI Khan on Friday on the orders of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) to inquire about alleged embezzlement in the Forest Department.

Senior Director Colonel (retd) Hussain Afridi, Deputy Director Muhammad Yasir and Senior Legal Adviser Ali Jan visited the forest department’s office and confiscated its records containing details about the auction of forest trees in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The NAB officials inspected Chasma Road and its adjacent areas from where trees worth millions of rupees have reportedly been chopped. Statements from witnesses were also recorded.



In September, the PHC ordered NAB to investigate the matter after Haroon Awan, a lawyer from DI Khan, filed an application in the court alleging large-scale corruption during the construction of Chasma Road. He maintained forest trees were cut off along the road and then auctioned off. Even trees growing 40 feet away from the road were uprooted by the forest department, claimed the petitioner.

The team had earlier visited DI Khan twice during the course of the investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2013.

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