ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) has reinstated two senior officials being tried for the fraud and corruption by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) court.

They are the directors of the Italian government funded projects ‘Promotion of Olive Cultivation’.

Standing Committee on National Food Security investigated the matter on different complaints of maladministration and financial irregularities.

Then the matter was assigned to the ministry and Chief Scientist Dr Ghulam Mohammad Ali investigated the allegations and found the officers guilty.

Dr Ali recommended termination of both the officers, besides forwarding the case to the FIA.

FIA registered FIR under sections 420, 468, 471, 109, 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 5(2)47 of Prevention of Corruption Act.

A challan submitted to the special court of the FIA alleged that these officers processed the payments through fake bills, fake inspection reports and fake bank accounts were opened for the purpose of money laundering.

FIA traced the money trail of fraudulent transaction and that the transaction made through fake bank account amounting to Rs150.6 million.

PARC’s chairman Dr Mohammad Azeem Khan, however, reinstated these officers.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Khan said that previous chairman Yusuf Zafar being President of the PARC’s Board of Directors terminated these employees from services.

He, however, said under the PARC’s rules the sacked officers challenged their termination and the federal minister of National Food Security being the competent authority accepted their representation.

“I being chairman and President of the BoD implemented the decision of the ministry”, he added.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2021