Bajaur Postal workers scam Rs62 million from BISP

FIA transfers scam for further investigation

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday unearthed massive embezzlement of funds to the tune of Rs62.57 million in the distribution of money under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) in Bajaur Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata).

According to the final source report of the FIA, available with Daily Express, Ghulam Muhammad and Nazir Khan allegedly misappropriated funds on account of the BISP programme and transferred them out of Pakistan illegally.

“Ghulam Muhammad and Nazir Khan are both employees of Pakistan Post Office, Bajaur, and allegedly [have] connections with proscribed organisations and have reportedly been facilitating them,” reveals the report.

The report further says that the record regarding funds released to the people of Bajaur from BISP through Post office was obtained from BISP.

Moreover, NADRA was requested to categorise the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNIC) provided by the welfare organisation into valid CNICs and blocked, CNICs of confirm Afghan nationals and suspect Afghan nationals.



There were 472 CNICs against which BISP funds were disbursed through the Bajaur Post Office, the report added.

“According to the record of BISP and in the light of CNICs record provided by NADRA, it transpired that, Rs62,569,500 have been skimmed from state exchequer on account of BISP funds since March 2017, with the connivance of Ghulam Muhammad, Nazir Khan, Nazeerur Rehman Muhammad, and other employees of Pakistan Post in Bajaur.

The categorical breakup of the embezzled amount, as detailed in the FIA report, shows that Rs288,900 was disbursed under 39 CNICs to "confirmed Afghan Nationals", Rs87,500 were disbursed under 15 CNICs of other non-national suspects, Rs725,800 were disbursed under 55 blocked CNICs; Rs114,300 was disbursed to 21 CNICs under fake particulars; Rs255,700 was disbursed under 27 CNICs in a category called temporarily cleared; Rs61,097,300 was disbursed to 315 invalid or wrong CNICs.

It has been suggested in the FIA report that the instant inquiry is to be transferred to Anti-Corruption Circle, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Islamabad Zone, for onward proceedings.



“The instant inquiry falls within jurisdiction of Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) of FIA Islamabad because government funds have been found embezzled by government employees,” states the report, adding “However, during the course of inquiry if any evidence regarding terrorist financing or money laundering came on record, the matter may be referred to Counter Terrorism Wing FIA Islamabad to the extent terrorist financing.”

The findings of the FIA report suggest that since theft of huge amount from the state exchequer unearthed on account of BISP in a small agency of Fata, which has small population as compared to other districts of Pakistan, it would be appropriate if a forensic audit of BISP with thorough scrutiny of CNICs of beneficiaries is conducted across the country for BISP funds disbursements from both banks and post offices.



“It would be appropriate if the matter is forwarded to all zonal offices to ascertain irregular payments under BISP,” the FIA report concludes.