NAB arrests two officials in Sukkur for misappropriating pensioners' funds

They were arrested from SHC premises in Sukkur after court rejected their pre-arrest bail

SUKKUR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sukkur arrested on Tuesday two government officials on charges of misappropriating pensioners' funds to the tune of more than Rs150 million.

The accused were arrested from the Sindh High Court (SHC) premises in Sukkur after the court rejected their pre-arrest bail.

According to NAB Sukkur spokesperson, the bureau received complaints against Muhammad Arif Teevno, former branch manager of National Bank of Pakistan's (NBP) Bhiria City branch in Naushero Feroz, Muhammad Ali Panhwar, former district accounts officer in Naushero Feroz, Nizamuddin Solangi, former sub-accountant of district accounts office in Naushero Feroz, Ghulam Asghar Rajpar, an agent, and others regarding embezzlement of government funds and misuse of authority.



The spokesperson further said around 63 accused, including the cashier of NBP Bhiria City branch, Ahmed Khan Solangi, and former medical superintendent of Kamal Dero district rural health centre in Naushero Feroz, Syed Sabul Shah, were found involved in misappropriating funds to the tune of more than Rs150 million from the pensioner's fund and by operating fake accounts in the NBP.

Having found sufficient evidence, NAB filed a reference in the Sukkur accountability court for trial. A reference was filed against 63 accused persons for misappropriation of government funds by payees' accounts bills, which were issued in the name of one pensioner and deposited into the account of another pensioner illegally. The total amount involved in the case is Rs155,475,111.

After thorough investigation, the director-general of NAB Sukkur issued arrest warrants for all the accused on July 29 last year but the accused had gone into hiding.



On Tuesday, two of the key accused, Syed Sabul Shah and Ahmed Khan Solangi came to the SHC bench in Sukkur and filed a pre-arrest bail application. However, the court rejected their application. Following rejection of their bail plea, the NAB officials arrested the two. The NAB spokesperson further said that the accused will be produced in the National Accountability Court for remand.