RAHIM YAR KHAN: A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team, headed by Sub-Inspector Jamilur Rehmen, raided the Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) Complex on Wednesday to arrest meter reader Talib Husain for having assets of more than Rs10 million (beyond his known sources of income).

The FIA team, however, faced resistance by the union which held the raiding team hostage at the second floor of the complex and locked the main gate of the complex.

The City A-Division police, on being alerted, rescued the FIA officials and helped them arrest Talib and two other Mepco employees and shifted them to Circuit House.

The first information report registered under section 420/468 and 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code and 5(2)47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act states that Talib bought one kanal and 10 marlas in 2014, four marlas in 2013, and five marlas in 2015.

He made transactions from a bank branch on Shahi Road worth Rs10 million. During the inquiry, Talib submitted fake documents.

Similarly, the FIA team with Mepco Multan officials also visited 16 sites of the city on April 16 and 17, 2020 to probe into corruption charges and misuse of powers by Mepco sub-divisional officer of Chowk Bahadurpur Muhammad Mudassar. He is also accused of using Mepco material without issuance of demand notices.

Another Mepco executive engineer Asim Rasheed was suspended from service in March 2018 who submitted his non-certified engineering degree at the time of his appointment as sub- divisional officer 17 years back.

In 2018, the National Accountability Bureau started investigations into his assets.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2020