The alleged financial and administrative irregularities in the Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) will now be investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) forwarded the case files to the NAB on Thursday because the project has been devolved to the provinces and does not fall under the federal jurisdiction any more.
According to documents available with The Express Tribune, Deputy Director FIA Syed Junaid Arshad referred the case for criminal proceedings against BECS Director Brig (retd) Sirajuddin and his accomplices.
Official sources said that the inquiry against the director and other people were launched on the complaints of former National Education Foundation (NEF) Managing Director Kamran Zafar.
In his six page letter, the former MD stated that Sirrajuddin and BECS Assistant Director (Finance) Abdul Hannan embezzled Rs794.123 million by opening a private account in National Bank of Pakistan, Aabpara Branch on June 30, 2011(the day BECS ceased to be operational).
This was in clear violation of a letter issued by Cabinet Division joint secretary that authorised Zafar, the then NEF managing director, to overlook the money. Kamran, in his letter, alleged that the two had transferred the money to their “private and secret” account.
There were several other allegations in the letter.
‘Baseless allegations’
Brig (retd) Sirajuddin refuted all allegations as “baseless”, saying they have “nothing to do with reality”. He said the ministry had started an inquiry against Zafar and he took this step to divert the attention. Sirajuddin said, “Zafar himself was the signatory of the cheques through which amount was withdrawn.”
He said that the NAB had not approached him about the case, but if it did he would prove his innocence.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2012.
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