MANSEHRA: The anti-corruption establishment (ACE), Mansehra, has seized the record of Insaf Food Security Programme after receiving complaints of financial embezzlement and gratifications in distribution of wheat seeds in the district.

An ACE team led by its assistant director Mukhtar Ahmad raided the offices of agriculture department and seized the entire record of wheat distribution under the Insaf Food Security Programme (IFSP) launched by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government to improve the financial position of small farmers and increase annual wheat yield in the province.

“We have seized the IFSP record on farmers’ complaints that gratification is being demanded from them for wheat seeds provided free of cost by the government,” Mohammad Sohail, ACE circle officer, told mediapersons here on Tuesday. He said that surprisingly 27 staff members were absent from duty when the team raided the offices.

The circle officer said that the inquiry had been started after seizing the IFSP record and those found involved in embezzlement would be taken to task under the relevant laws. He said that his department had received complaints that high quality seeds meant for free distribution were also being sold in the market.

Anti-corruption team raids agriculture dept offices in Mansehra

He said that during raid the farmers also gathered outside the agriculture department offices and recorded their statements, alleging that they were still deprived of seeds as the officials sought bribe from them.

PTI district councillor Ambreen Swati, who had raised the issue, said that if pubic representatives would join hands against corruption nobody could dare to indulge in any sort of malpractices. She said that lawmakers at the provincial and national levels and LG representatives at the district, tehsil and village levels could provide relief to the people by ending corruption from the society.

“I would discharge my duty with honesty and unearth more such financial scandals of other government departments,” she said.

ROAD MISHAP: A man was killed and another one sustained critical injuries when a passenger jeep plunged into a ravine in Palas area of Kaghan valley on Tuesday.

The jeep was going to Balakot from Kaghan when the driver lost its control at a sharp turn and as a result it skidded off the road and fell into a ravine.

The local people took the dead, identified as Waji Hussain Shah of Palas, and injured Mohammad Zahoor to a nearby hospital. Mr Zahoor was later taken to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in Mansehra. Balakot police registered the FIR and have started investigation.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2015