GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has recovered Rs2.5 million from a key suspect in the Rs93 million corruption scandal involving the Gujrat Municipal Corporation (GtMC) officials.

According to FIA and local administration officials, the amount was deposited into GtMC’s official bank account by clerk Majid Rasheed, who reportedly fled abroad following the registration of a case against him by the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).

The case, initially registered by ACE against eight officials of GtMC, including former chief officer Malik Ibrar, finance officer Rauf Ashraf Warraich and auditor Amir Majeed, accused them of embezzling Rs40 million. However, further investigations revealed the total misappropriated amount to be Rs93.6 million.

Five suspects are currently in jail, and their bail pleas have been rejected. Ibrar withdrew his interim bail after forensic tests by the Punjab Forensic Science Agency (PFSA) revealed that his signatures on the withdrawal cheques were forged. Majid recently returned a portion of the embezzled amount.

The case was transferred to FIA after the arrest of two Bank of Punjab (BoP) officials. The FIA confirmed the recovery of Rs2.5 million under FIR No. 386/24, registered on Nov 29, 2024.

Illegal withdrawals totaling Rs93 million were made from the BoP accounts of GtMC during 2024. These discrepancies were initially identified by Chief Officer Khaliq Daad Gara, who reported the matter to the Gujranwala commissioner, the GtMC’s administrator.

FIA officials revealed that the signatures of three senior officers, including the CO, finance officer, and resident auditor, were confirmed as forgeries in forensic tests. Efforts are ongoing to recover the remaining misappropriated funds.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2025