The anti-corruption department in Abbottabad said Friday it had arrested two suspects including a revenue officer as part of major corruption scandal involving the misappropriation of government land.
The activities included fraudulent transactions and forgery, leading to the arrest of two suspects, it said.
According to the department, legal proceedings had been initiated against six individuals including a former tehsildar, land revenue officer, patwari, and a member of the cantonment board. The accused are facing charges under various sections, it added. The authorities added that they were pursuing the arrest of four additional suspects. The action was taken in response to a complaint filed by Aurangzeb Shafi.
The department alleged that the accused were engaged in the fabrication of government land documents and blatant bribery, facilitating illegal transfers and sales.
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It said that the suspicious transaction involved 25 kanal, 68 marlas, reportedly resulting in a loss of Rs2.5 million per marla. The transactions involved land belonging to Abbottabad municipality.
The implicated individuals include Muhammad Bashir, Sardar Zulfikar Ali, Syed Shahzad Shah, Patwari Daryaft Khan, and former tehsildar Izzat Masood, and their accomplice Azhar Masood.
The accused allegedly received a total of Rs42.5 million rupees from the deal, and another Rs0.5 million as part of an undertaking for another piece of land.
The affected party has accused the individuals of belonging to a fraudulent group and has requested legal action be taken in accordance with the law.
On the same day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Communication and Works Ahmad Jan declared the priority of connecting all districts in Hazara Division, including Abbottabad, through a modern road network linked to the national market.
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In a meeting with National Highway Authority (NHA) officials in Abbottabad, the minister underscored the importance of enhancing local employment opportunities in the region. The meeting was attended by Commissioner Hazara Division Syed Zaheer ul Islam and officials from various departments.
Addressing the impact of climate change and other challenges on Abbottabad's aesthetics, he stressed the necessity for collective efforts to address these issues and preserve the city's environmental atmosphere. Despite economic challenges, the minister expressed optimism, attributing positive signs of financial improvement to the stringent measures implemented by the provincial government. Highlighting the government's commitment to a self-sufficiency policy, he emphasized the tangible financial benefits resulting from this approach. While issuing directives to the divisional and district administration in Abbottabad, particularly in the realm of irrigation, the minister underscored the importance of effective coordination among all departments.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 2nd, 2023.
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