MANSEHRA: Deputy commissioner Bilal Shahid Rao on Wednesday announced the formation of a committee to probe the alleged irregularities in the distribution of subsidised flour here.

“We won’t allow any financial and other anomalies in the distribution of subsidised flour, which is meant for the residents of our district. The culprits, if any, will be taken to justice,” Mr Rao told chairmen of the village and neighbourhood councils in a meeting in his office here.

The DC said a committee headed by the assistant commissioner of Baffa-Pakhal would also look into the allegations that the contractors illegally sold flour on the market instead of people.

He said the administration was ensuring by all means the flour supply to people and won’t tolerate irregularities by the food department, millers or sale points fixed for its sale.

DC assures local body chairmen of action

Earlier, chairman of Baffa-Pakhal village council Zubair Ahmad alleged that the millers, in connivance with the food department, didn’t give the subsidised flour quota to designated sale points and instead, wholesalers got it at the market price.

He alleged that officials of the food department issued supply contracts to only those who bribed them – a major hurdle to the fair distribution of subsidised flour at the rate of Rs1,290 per 20kg bag.

Village council chairman Rizwanul Haq alleged that the millers linked to the ruling PML-N leaders were contracted to supply subsided flour to the utility stores.

He demanded of the DC to order an inquiry.

ACQUITTED: A local court on Wednesday acquitted four people on the charge of killing a boy in Battal area here in 2021.

Lawyer Yasir Mustafa told reporters outside the court that his clients, including Pervez Khan, his brother Khaista Aman and others Dilnawaz and Mohammad Sajjad, were booked and arrested by the police over the 2021 murder of resident Mohammad Rashid but they all were acquitted by an additional sessions judge due to a lack of evidence.

The FIR said Rashid was killed in Battal area after gunmen forcibly disembarked him from his car.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2023