ABBOTTABAD, Feb 2: A security committee has cancelled at least 62 cheques issued to earthquake survivors on bogus claims. Over 60,000 cheques had been issued in the district against claims of loss of property in the Oct 8 quake, while official reports said that only 3,345 houses had been damaged.

The NWFP government took notice of the embezzlement and formed special committees comprising representatives of various agencies to check the irregularities. Reliable sources said most of the cheques issued to the earthquake survivors were bogus and blamed nazims and patwaris of the respective union councils.

According to initial inquiry conducted by the teams, cheques were also issued to those who have died a few years ago.

In many union councils, cheques were issued without completing formalities and no record of verification by army men and patwaris was found. In some cases, even signatures from cheque recipients were not taken.