QUETTA: A local court on Saturday sent Balochistan Finance Secretary Mushtaq Ahmed Raisani on a remand for 14 days. Raisani was produced before the court by National Accountability Bureau.

Raisani was handed over to NAB on a 14 day remand by Judicial Magistrate one Quetta Muhammad Hanif.

Strict security measures were taken by the administration while producing the accused in court.

NAB on Friday had recovered more than Rs730 million from the residence of Raisani, who was arrested earlier in the day.

Raisani had been accused of embezzling billions of rupees from local government development funds, a senior NAB official, who did not want to be named, told DawnNews earlier.

NAB recovered bags filled with local and foreign currency from Raisani’s residence.

Sources told DawnNews that according to initial count around Rs730 million worth of currency and prize bonds have been recovered from the serving bureaucrat's residence.

Raisani was arrested during a a raid at his office in the civil secretariat on Friday.

Raisani, an influential bureaucrat in Balochistan, has served as secretary finance for the last few years. He served in same position during the PPP government's term.

After a string of arrests in Sindh, this is the first high profile arrest made by the accountability body in Balochistan during the PML-N government's term as it seeks to unearth corruption worth billions of rupees in the provincial finance department's development funds.

After the episode, Balochistan government announced suspension of Mushtaq Raisani in a late night notification.The notification explained that the secretary finance was suspended following his arrest by National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Balochistan government spokesperson told media that the provincial government will fully co-operate with NAB during investigation against Raisani.

Opinion

Who bears the cost?

Who bears the cost?

This small window of low inflation should compel a rethink of how the authorities and employers understand the average household’s

Editorial

Internet restrictions
Updated 23 Dec, 2024

Internet restrictions

Notion that Pakistan enjoys unprecedented freedom of expression difficult to reconcile with the reality of restrictions.
Bangladesh reset
23 Dec, 2024

Bangladesh reset

THE vibes were positive during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent meeting with Bangladesh interim leader Dr...
Leaving home
23 Dec, 2024

Leaving home

FROM asylum seekers to economic migrants, the continuing exodus from Pakistan shows mass disillusionment with the...
Military convictions
Updated 22 Dec, 2024

Military convictions

Pakistan’s democracy, still finding its feet, cannot afford such compromises on core democratic values.
Need for talks
22 Dec, 2024

Need for talks

FOR a long time now, the country has been in the grip of relentless political uncertainty, featuring the...
Vulnerable vaccinators
22 Dec, 2024

Vulnerable vaccinators

THE campaign to eradicate polio from Pakistan cannot succeed unless the safety of vaccinators and security personnel...