Swept away Former: FDMA DG apprehended in another case

Arshad Khan misappropriated Rs0.3b.

PESHAWAR: Former director general of FATA Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) Arshad Khan was arrested on Wednesday by NAB K-P for misappropriating funds over Rs0.3 billion meant for the war-affected people of Bajaur Agency.

According to details, Irfanullah, former assistant director of the authority, was also taken into custody. Both men, along with other officials, allegedly embezzled the amount from Housing Uniform Assistance Subsidy Project for Bajaur Agency.

Arshad is currently serving as additional secretary of home and tribal affairs department.

Embezzlement

An insider told The Express Tribune, the government of Pakistan had paid compensation to the displaced population with the help of USAID.

“At least Rs400,000 was paid to people whose houses were completely damaged,” he said.

“Moreover, Rs160,000 was paid to each displaced person whose house was partially damaged,” he said. “The total cost of the project was Rs2.5 billion and nearly 10,000 affected people of Bajaur Agency were compensated.”

However, an enquiry revealed Arshad, who was the then director general of FDMA, along with other officials, embezzled a large fraction of the funds meant for the affected families of the agency.

According to the insider, the officials managed to misappropriate the amount and prepared hundreds of unverified survey forms which carried the names of people who had to be compensated.

“Arshad illegally approved these surveys and misled Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Provincial Reconstruction Rehabilitation & Settlement Authority so that they pay the required amount,” he added.

Arshad was already in judicial custody after NAB K-P had arrested him for misappropriating Rs60 million meant for the displaced population from Mohmand Agency.

The accused will be brought before the accountability court in Peshawar to obtain their physical remand.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2015.