KOHAT, March 7: The district government has decided to refer the case of a Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO), who allegedly misappropriated Rs40.5 million, to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for investigation and recovery of the amount.

Tehsil Nazim Dilbar Khan confirmed that the NAB would investigate the case.

An official of the district compliant cell told Dawn that a case involving another tehsil municipal officer serving in Peshawar had also been sent to the NAB.

He said the district government had Contacted the bureau after two teams appointed by the provincial government to investigate the matter failed to deliver. “The anti-corruption department has proved to be helpless,” he added.

Acting on a complaint lodged by the former tehsil nazim, the provincial government had asked the District Coordination Officer (DCO) to conduct an inquiry against the TMO. The DCO assigned the job to EDO (finance) but he expressed inability to conduct the probe. Later, TMO Charsadda Fazle Qadir was appointed as the inquiry officer.

Charges against TMO Malik Ijaz include making advance payment of Rs3.4 million to the contractor of Kotal Arcade in violation of the local government and tender rules. The TMO completed the process for payment of this amount in one day. Having received the money, the contractor stopped work on the project.

According to an inquiry conducted by an assistant director of the local government, the record and vouchers of payments of Rs10.44 million were missing. It is alleged that TMO Malik Ijaz and Tehsil Officer Regulation (TOR) Barkatullah embezzled the amount. The two officials passed a bill for Rs180,000 for the repair of a vehicle which proved to be fake. Similarly, the officials purchased a laptop for Rs78,000 but allegedly showed Rs178,000 in the bill.

The TMO auctioned two shops located in the grain market for Rs1.5 million each but deposited the amount in the government account at the rate of Rs700,000 per shop. Both the officials appointed 70 people in the TMA to oblige their seniors and politicians.

Another TMO, Noor Daraz Khattak, whose case is being investigated by the NAB, was found involved in several cases of corruption while serving in Karak, Hangu and Kohat districts.

According to different inquiry reports, Mr Khattak was found guilty of accumulating wealth and assets beyond his known sources of income.

The DIG, Peshawar, in his report said: “Coming from a poor family background, he owns a personal car, a bungalow in the posh KDA locality while his son, Omar Daraz, is studying in a private medical college in Karachi under self-finance scheme. His annual tuition fee and other expenditures have been confirmed at more than Rs600,000 which a grade-16 officer like his father cannot afford.”

A report by the Peshawar corps commander says that while performing duties in Hangu, Mr Khattak auctioned some government shops for Rs1.62 million but deposited only Rs500,000 in the government account.