Rs40b Kohistan scandal: investigators 'complicit'

Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dr. Ibadullah, has alleged that individuals investigating the massive Rs40 billion financial scandal in Kohistan are themselves involved in the corruption. He further claimed that the province's Chief Executive remains unaware of the situation.

Addressing an emergency press conference at the provincial assembly, Dr Ibadullah stated, "In this province, not even a peon can be transferred without money changing hands. Yet the Chief Executive claims ignorance of a scandal worth billions." He further alleged that the very individuals tasked with investigating the scandal are themselves complicit in the corruption.

Ibadullah was accompanied by MPA Sajjadullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), who also represents Kohistan. The opposition leader drew comparisons with the 2014 Panama Papers controversy, noting, "At that time, PTI leaders raised a storm over Rs3 billion. Now, under their own government, Rs40 billion has vanished in just six years."

He questioned the potential use of the embezzled funds, suggesting, "Was this money used to fund the Islamabad march, the May 9 agitation, or opposition to the Army Chief's appointment?"

He directly accused the province's Chief Executive of involvement in the scandal, criticizing his silence on the issue. "Those in PTI who once couldn't afford a rickshaw now own commercial plots worth billions in Islamabad," he claimed.

He praised the Speaker of the Assembly for referring the Kohistan scandal to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for investigation, but called it an example of institutional failure.

He pointed to the involvement of the Communication and Works (C&W) Department, the Accountant General's office, and the Finance Department.