MANSEHRA: Chairman of the Datta village council Assad Ali Shah on Saturday demanded an investigation by the National Accountability Bureau into the alleged irregularities during the recent procurement of wheat in the district.

“The anti-corruption watchdogs tasked with checking financial irregularities in government departments should hold an investigation into the anomalies allegedly committed in wheat procurement,” Mr Shah told reporters here.

Accompanied by Datta religious leader Maulana Altaf, the council chairman said the government had formed committees to assess the quality of wheat supplied by Punjab’s growers before deciding whether or not to purchase it at the government’s rate.

He alleged that officials of the food department, procurement committee’s members, and influential people manipulated the entire procurement process for their benefit.

Mansehra LB head alleges officials manipulated process

“Officials of the food department refused to buy wheat from Punjab’s growers at the rate of Rs3900 per 40kg set by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, claiming the procurement target was met. However, that wheat supplied in 40 trucks was unloaded in the city at the rate of Rs2,000 per 40kg,” he alleged.

Mr Shah said officials of the anti-corruption establishment visited wheat procurement centres and didn’t do their duty.

He demanded an inquiry into the matter for action against the officials, who, he said, connived with middlemen.

SMUGGLERS HELD: The mineral department on Saturday arrested two people after foiling the illegal transportation of granite to Punjab.

“We intercepted two trucks, seized large granite rocks being smuggled to Punjab, and arrested two smugglers,” mineral inspector Amir Pervez told reporters.

He said inspectors Ahsan Bukhtiar Tanoli and Qari Inamul Haq were also part of the team that carried out the action.

Mr Pervez said the assistant director (minerals) was leading the crackdown on mineral smuggling and illegal excavation in the upper parts of Hazara Division.

KILLED: A boy killed his elder sister in the Baffa Mera area here on Friday night.

Ahsanullah fired at his sister after she asked him about returning home late.

The gunfire injured the girl, who died on the way to a nearby health centre.

The assailant fled, prompting the police to begin a search for him after the registration of an FIR.

Meanwhile, a fire destroyed two houses in theChinai Jabori area here on Saturday.

An electric short circuit caused the fire, which ripped through the houses of Mohammad Fareed and his brother, Mohammad Kabool.

The neighbours shifted residents to safety before controlling the fire with water and sand within an hour of its eruption.

The fire destroyed furniture, other goods, and cash.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2024