PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has approved inquiries against employees of different government departments in Malakand and other areas of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas regarding corruption and corrupt practices.

According to a statement issued here on Friday, the approval was given in the NAB regional board meeting which was chaired by Farmanullah Khan, director general NAB, KP, in Peshawar. It was attended by directors, deputy prosecutor general and case officers.

The board authorised inquiry against employees of various government departments of Malakand and other areas regarding corruption and corrupt practices.

The accused persons were stated to have allegedly embezzled millions of funds in connection with ghost schemes in different union councils of Malakand, illegal award of contracts and substandard construction of Ghari Usmankhel sports ground.

Another inquiry was authorised against employees of government departments in Malakand and other areas. It was alleged that the officials were involved in misappropriation of funds in purchase of land for Janazgah and cemetery, illegal award of transport terminal and purchase of land at exorbitant rates for Badraga College.

It added that an inquiry was initiated against officers/officials of Fata Secretariat regarding corruption and corrupt practices and embezzlement of funds. As per allegations, millions of rupees funds were embezzled in several projects by using substandard material in construction of road at Kotka Abdullah Din, construction of flood protection wall and BT road at Mirali tehsil of North Waziristan Agency.

It was stated that another inquiry was authorised against officers/officials of Fata Secretariat regarding corruption and corrupt practices. It is alleged that millions of rupees funds were embezzled in road projects at Ladha, Birmal tehsil, Sara Rogha tehsil and Mirali tehsil.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2018