Man caught taking bribe to hire polio staff

ACU officials say suspect worked as a clerk at DHO

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) arrested on Tuesday an employee of the district health department while taking money from a citizen to recruit them as a polio worker.

ACU officials said that Muhammad Zubair had filed a complaint with ACU Regional Director Kanwal Batool that he was visiting the District Health Office (DHO) the other day for some work when he encountered Tasawar Hussain, a clerk in the office.

Zubair claimed that Hussain offered to recruit him as a polio worker, provided he paid him Rs50,000 to get the job.

Lured by the offer, the complainant agreed to the arrangement, but not before haggling down the kickback sum to Rs30,000. Hussain agreed but demanded Rs10,000 upfront as a surety.

Later, the complainant changed his mind and complained to the ACU.

ACU Circle Officer Zahid Zahoor along with a judicial magistrate raided the office and caught the health department worker. The colour marked currency notes, which Zubair had given him to confirm the corruption accusations, were recovered from Hussain’s possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2020.