In deep pit: Rs17b embezzlement discovered in police department

From 2014 to 2017, Rs168 million were taken out as additional allowances

LAHORE: An audit report of the Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) unveiled embezzlement of billions of rupees in the purchase of security equipment, jammers, food and logistic affairs of prisons, allowances of police officers and several other matters that fall under the ambit of the home department.

The AGP submitted a report to the Punjab Assembly revealing irregularities of more than Rs17 billion in the police department.

The report showed that more than Rs20 million were spent on the repair of vehicles of the police department. However, no documented evidence or receipts of those expenses were found in the public accounts documents.

From 2014 to 2017, Rs168 million were taken out from the national exchequer in the name of additional allowances of hundreds of police employees. As many as 37 payments of Rs2.81 billion were made in the same duration which was not recorded in the official records.

Unauthorised purchases of Rs2.11 billion were made in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority laws in different offices of various police officers, including the Forensic Science Agency, Child Protection Bureau and various prisons.

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The DPOs of eight districts and CTOs of four districts including other offices of the police department have reportedly spent a hefty amount of Rs730 million which was more than the total budget allocated for that purpose.

Moreover, the offices of Lahore CTD AIG, Jhelum, Okara, Rajanpur, Multan Special Branch, District Jail Lahore and Vehari were paid more than Rs200 million in cash. No official records of cash payments furthermore Rs 600 million existed in the documents of offices of the Lahore CTD, Security DIG, Home Secretary, Special Branch, Sialkot DPO, Sargodha, Khushab, Jhang and office of Lahore Investigation DIG. Over Rs400 million for fuel of vehicles was spent which is far more than the allocated amount for petrol consumption. More than Rs187 million were spent on the food expenditure of prisoners in 10 jails across Punjab.

The offices of the DPOs of Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Kasur, Layyah and Mianwali were paid over Rs200 million for police volunteers. Under the amount allocated for investigative expenses worth Rs60.7 million were spent but no documented records were present in the office of Investigation DIG, CPO Rawalpindi and 11 other DPOs.

Embezzlement of Rs43.5 million has been detected in the land purchase matter for the expansion of Punjab Forensic Science Agency. The non-deduction of taxes gave the contractors undue favour of Rs99 million.

Gujranwala, Lahore, Jhang, Sargodha and Khushab did not receive the amount of Rs620 million from the persons concerned or authorities in connection with the security provided by the police to various institutions such as banks.

The audit also revealed that more than Rs171 million traffic penalties and challans were not collected by the department concerned.

As many as 57 police officers who were suspended from their job or took leaves for more than 11 days were allowed a collective sum of Rs326 million under various allowances.

Commandant Sihala, Superintendent Special Branch Multan, Special Branch Lahore, CPO Rawalpindi, DPO Nankana Sahib and Lahore CTO continued to receive more than Rs4 million under the head of the salary from 2015 to 2017 even after their suspension from the office.

An amount of Rs1.85 billion under the head of driving school fee, driving licence fee, medical fund and canteen rate have not been deposited in the national exchequer.

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The national exchequer suffered a loss of more than Rs478 million due to non-auction of various police vehicles and other things. The trainers were paid around Rs60 million in 2015-2016 for conducting the training of police volunteers. However, there was no record available to validate the payment.

The report pointed out that Rs315 million were spent allegedly on ghost employees in seven battalions, including Police Training College Chung, Khushab and Kasur DPOs.

In District Jail Lahore Rs362 million were paid in advance against the law for various utility bills, and purchases of mobile jammers.

The CTD, Investigation, Special Branch and in various prison facilities along with different districts, over

The audit also revealed an irregularity of Rs880 million paid to the police officers and employees in terms of allowances.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2019.