Anti-Corruption Establishment raids several government offices

Millions of rupees have been allegedly misappropriated by the irrigation department officials

SUKKUR: Finally awakening from their deep slumber, the anti-corruption circle officers on Friday raided several government offices and seized records pertaining to the works on the Sukkur Barrage, protective embankments and desilting. These raids aim to unearth massive corruption in the irrigation department and its sister organisations over the last seven years.

On Friday, a team of the Anti-Corruption Establishment, led by the Sukkur circle officer, Sikandar Ali Jalbani, raided the treasury office in Sukkur. According to sources in the department, the team seized records pertaining to different works carried out at the Sukkur Barrage and Bagari Bund during the last five to seven years. The source said that an amount of over Rs1.5 billion has been spent on different works of the Sukkur Barrage during the last seven years, while over Rs205 million have been spent on the Bagari Bund during the last five years, adding that large-scale embezzelment has been done in these works.

Meanwhile, a team of the Ghotki Anti-Corruption Establishment, led by circle officer Mukhtiar Lashari, raided the office of the treasury in Mirpur Mathelo and seized records relating to works on various canals and bunds during the last seven years. Speaking to journalists, the officer claimed that over Rs500 million has been spent on different bunds and canals during the last seven years by the Mirpur Mathelo irrigation division, while over Rs780 million has been spent by the Ghotki irrigation division.

Another team of the Jacobabad Anti-Corruption Establishment raided the treasury office and took into custody records pertaining to work on different irrigation channels, including Noor Wah, Bagari Canal, Kirthar Canal and others. Millions of rupees reportedly have been spent on these canals during the last seven years.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.