LAHORE: In a continuing move aimed at curbing financial malpractices, the Auqaf department has taken stringent disciplinary actions against four officials previously posted at the shrine of Hazrat Bibi Pak Daman (RA) after they were found guilty of stealing donations (Nazrana).

Inquiries initiated on the directions of the Auqaf Board proved that embezzlement of donations was committed at the shrine, breaching the trust of the devotees who offered Nazrana.

Auqaf department Secretary Dr Ehsan Bhutta, also chief administrator Auqaf, ordered punishments under provisions of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (Peeda) Act, 2006.

Dr Bhutta, being the competent authority, slapped a major penalty upon the shrine’s former manager, Zahid Iqbal, comprising forfeiture of his five-year past service, alongside issuing an official order for recovery of Rs5.387 million to recoup the established pecuniary loss caused by the official’s serious negligence, abnormal income patterns, and a failure to carry out written inspections.

A minor penalty of withholding increments for a period of three years was imposed on a former senior clerk/accountant, Imtiaz Hussain, for gross inefficiency, failure to properly maintain cashbooks, missing supervisor signatures, and failure to report revenue anomalies.

Meanwhile, the financial misconduct charges against a former gatekeeper, Mohsin Shah and ex-caretaker Zafar Iqbal, were not legally proved. A departmental spokesman, however, confirmed that administrative restrictions have been recorded in the service books of all individuals involved, permanently banning them from future postings related to any cash-sensitive duties, donation management points, or field revenue positions.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2026