BAHAWALNAGAR: More than 50 device retailer agents (DRA) were arrested and booked across the district under section 420 of Pakistan Penal Code after a number of video clips of the agents deducting money from the beneficiaries of Ramazan Negahban Programme (RNP) made the rounds on social media, Dawn has learnt.

Zahid Mehmood, a DRA from Chishtian, was arrested on the spot by revenue officials while making an unlawful deduction of Rs1,000 from each beneficiary in the RNP when the officials visited his booth after taking notice of the viral footage of him deducting money. The retailer agent was handed over to the Chishtian A Division police which registered a case against him.

In Bahawalnagar city, a case was filed with A Division police station against a retailer, the proprietor of Bismillah Mobile Shop, in response to a complaint by Ghulam Ali, a RNP recipient. There were accusations against the DRA involving a Rs300 deduction per individual in the programme, which were validated during a surprise visit by the AC office team to the shop.

Shopkeepers booked for deducting money from beneficiaries of Ramazan Programme

Meanwhile, Bahawalnagar B Division police, on the complaint of Naib Tehsildar Malik Zaman, launched a case against a DRA named Aqeel for fraudulently taking Rs500 to Rs1,000 from programme participants in Farooqabad area. Similarly, a DRA named Yasin Kharal in Mandi Sadiq Ganj was booked on the complaint of revenue officials after videos of him withdrawing Rs1,000 from each person during NRP’s payment went viral on social media.

Citizens alleged that with the connivance of the administration, retailers, in the presence of checking teams, were openly engaged in illegal deductions from the poor and deserving people, and no action was being taken against them despite repeated complaints. They complained that the administration was forced to take action only against some specific retailers whose videos of corruption went viral on social media, adding that upon a complaint against a retailer, the administration demands video evidence against the retailer concerned.

Deputy Commissioner Zulfiqar Ahmad Bhhon told Dawn that more than 50 retailers had been booked and arrested following complaints received on social media and other forums, and that the relevant retailer shops had also been sealed.

He said earlier, some started working in Bahawalnagar after receiving retailer store approval from neighbouring districts, which led to significant levels of corruption. However, after such DRAs were removed from the district, retailers who worked via proper channels were permitted to operate. The DC said he had tasked ACs of all tehsils with preventing corruption in the distribution of RNP payments and “I am personally monitoring their work.”

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2025