March 12, 2006	Sunday	Safar 11, 1427

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ABBOTTABAD, March 11: Patwaris on Saturday demanded equal treatment to all those allegedly involved in the embezzlement of relief money meant for earthquake victims.

Speaking at a press conference, Anjuman-i-Patwarian chief Hanif Khan regretted that only a patwari accused of corruption was being made target of the investigation conducted by the National Accountability Bureau and other agencies.

There was a lot of hue and cry after it surfaced that hundreds of cheques were issued to non-deserving people. A patwari and a councillor were arrested by the NAB on the charge of embezzlement and remanded into police custody for 14 days for interrogation.

Mr Hanif Khan said that cheques had been issued after joint verification by the councillor, the concerned UC nazim and Pakistan Army personnel.

He said that while others involved in the case were spared, revenue officials (patwari) had been subjected to what they called a ‘step-motherly’ treatment.

He said their association had decided that all the patwaris would to go on a four-month ‘leave’ if all other departments involved in the affair were not included in investigation.