MUZAFFARGARH: A case has been registered against the centre in charge of the Ladhana Passco (Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation) Centre in Layyah district, for alleged unfair distribution of bardana (grain sacks).

The Peer Jaggi police arrested centre in charge Adnan Shaukat under Section 409 of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Naib Tehsildar Mohammed Ramzan Farooqi. He is accused of selling 6,000 bags to middlemen.

The complainant naib tehsildar stated that, on the direction of Deputy Commissioner Ameera Baidar, he investigated the bardana distribution following complaints from farmers and found 6,000 bags missing, which had been sold to traders at Rs500 per bag.

In a related incident, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) conducted raids at Kot Sultan and Paharpur on Friday.

During a raid at the Kot Sultan Passco Centre on Friday, Sub-Inspector FIA Abdul Razzaq with Civil Judge Shehbaz Akram arrested Purchase Inspector Muhammad Asif on bribery complaints. However, farmers at the site intervened, freeing Asif from FIA custody and helping him escape.

The farmers rejected the bribery allegations against the food inspector. The FIA team sought intervention from the local police station, and a case was registered against the food in charge and the farmers involved.

Dawn learned that allegations of unfair distribution of bardana and corruption against Passco centre in charges were reported to the FIA for justice.

A petition was filed on behalf of Zahoor Hussain, of Kotla Haji Shah, against Shahpur Duratta Passco Centre in charge Muhammad Imran. He is accused of colluding with Zonal Manager Hayatullah Kakar to cause irreparable damage to farmers by selling bardana to relatives, traders, and friends, with video evidence provided.

Muhammad Imran allegedly sold bardana to middlemen Akhtar, Akram, Sajjad, Toqeer, Abbas, and others at rates between Rs1,000 and Rs1,200 per bag, thereby depriving farmers of their rightful supplies.

Similar cases have been reported in Muzaffargarh’s tehsils Alipur and Jatoi, where the Passco district general manager and food in-charge were booked by police.

The FIA is also investigating the unfair distribution of bardana.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2024