Millions of rupees embezzled from pension funds

A massive embezzlement scheme has been revealed in the Hyderabad District Accounts Office, where millions of rupees were stolen from pension funds. Inactive pension accounts of deceased municipal employees were restored and used to embezzle funds. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched an investigation and is seeking detailed records and information about the individuals involved.

An inquiry is underway against National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Branch Manager Afaq Shah, municipal staff, and Hyderabad District Accounts Office staff on charges of corruption. Around 60 inactive pension accounts were reactivated, and millions of rupees were withdrawn through unauthorised transactions.

The inquiry was initiated after a complaint filed by NBP's Operations Manager Manzoor Ali Siyal. National Bank sources revealed that internal investigations are also underway, and Afaq Ahmed Shah who is a key suspect has allegedly confessed to his involvement and returned a portion of the embezzled amount.

Documents show that the staff of the District Accounts Office Hyderabad paid Rs4.3 million in pension funds to a fictitious wife of renowned writer Dur Muhammad Kamal, who passed away in 2017. Kamal's nephew, Manzoor Solangi, claims that he informed the authorities about the fraud but was ignored. He is now filing a complaint with the Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment and the FIA.

Notably, several officers of the District Accounts Office Hyderabad are currently facing a NAB reference of Rs3 billion in the Karachi Accountability Court.