ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is conducting a fact-finding inquiry against Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi over renovation of his residence in Ministers Enclave on the ‘expense’ of officials of the district administration.

Sources in the interior ministry told Dawn that Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered the inquiry after a report published in an English newspaper claimed that officials working in the district administration, including patwaris, tehsildars, magistrates and staff of the excise and taxation office, had contributed for the renovation of the minister’s official residence.

It said the Public Works Department (PWD) was the relevant agency to undertake repair, maintenance and renovation of houses in the Ministers Enclave.

However, when the PWD expressed its inability citing of lack of funds, senior officials of the district administration offered the minister to renovate his house.

But the minister claimed that the entire renovation, including the installation of wallpapers, panelling of walls and furniture, had cost only Rs448,200 and he himself had paid the amount.

The FIA team comprises additional director general (anti-corruption) Basharat Shahzad, deputy director Faraz Ahmed and assistant directors Riaz Janjua and Kashif Awan.

The prime minister has ordered the FIA director general to submit the report in five days.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2018