LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan Zone has claimed to have arrested eight suspects during multiple raids in south Punjab for allegedly making illegal deductions from funds distributed under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).

According to the FIA spokesperson, acting on the directions of FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar and FIA Multan Director Ata-ur Rehman, teams led by the Deputy Director of FIA in Dera Ghazi Khan carried out multiple operations in different districts and arrested several suspects who were allegedly making illegal deductions from payments meant for poor women.

During a raid in Rajanpur, FIA officials arrested two suspects, Muhammad Yousaf and Nadeem Hussain, red-handed while distributing Ehsaas Kafalat funds and deducting illegal commissions of Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 per transaction from beneficiaries.

In another operation in Taunsa Sharif, FIA arrested Muhammad Ramzan and Ghulam Muhammad Hussain on similar charges of illegally deducting money from BISP payments during distribution.

In a separate raid in the same district, three more suspects including Muhammad Khan, Muhammad Nabi, and Wazir Khan were apprehended while allegedly charging unlawful commissions from the financial assistance meant for registered women beneficiaries.

In another case, Waheed Bakhsh was also arrested from Taunsa while reportedly deducting Rs1,000 to Rs1,500 from each payment distributed under the Ehsaas Kafalat programme.

According to FIA officials, statements of affected women were recorded at the scene. Mobile phones, registers, and national identity cards used in the illegal activity were also seized as evidence.

All suspects have been taken into custody and further investigations are underway.

The FIA spokesperson stated that the agency would continue strict action against individuals exploiting welfare programmes meant to support underprivileged families.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2026