MUZAFFARGARH: The anti-corruption establishment on Wednesday registered a case against former chief executive officer of district education authority and two officials for alleged embezzlement of Rs15 million.

The case was filed under sections 5/2/47 and 409 of PCA in Muzaffargarh on the complaint of Circle Officer Rana Muhammad Iqbal.

The FIR claims that ex-CEO Tariq Habib, along with clerk Fiaz Ahmad Dakhna and accountant Bashir Ahmad misappropriated procurement and non-salary budget (NSB) funds by using bogus bills. It was revealed through an earlier inquiry that a sum of Rs15,141,971 had already been fixed against Habib. The total financial loss caused by the mismanagement is reported to be in millions.

The ACE team also raided Habib’s office and found laptops, registers and other bills in his possession. Several headmasters and clerks from the education office have been summoned to provide statements as part of the investigation.

It merits mentioning that during last-week visit of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to Muzaffargarh. a classroom roof collapsed, leading to the death of a grade IX student, Ahmad, and serious injuries to six other students and a teacher.

In response, the CM expressed anger at the CEO of the education department. Deputy Commissioner Mian Usman Ali later ordered Habib’s immediate surrender and instructed him to report to the education secretary for inefficiency and misconduct.

The ACE officials said Tariq Habib will be arrested soon and efforts are underway to ensure the recovery of the embezzled funds.

‘ENCOUNTER’: A suspect was injured in a police encounter in the 136 TDA area in Layyah Saddar police precincts on Wednesday.

According to police, while returning from the recovery of stolen goods, some suspects opened fire on the police team in an attempt to free their accomplice Jameel Awan, a resident of 139 TDA, who was in police custody. During the exchange of fire, Jameel was injured.

The injured suspect was shifted to the district headquarters hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment. Police claimed that Jameel was involved in several serious crimes, including theft and robbery. The police have launched a search operation to arrest others who fled the scene after the encounter.

ARRESTED: Police have registered a case against three people and their 10 unidentified suspects for allegedly torturing a man at Chak No 100-ML.

Reports said two men were stripped naked and tortured at a private farmhouse due to a personal grudge. A video of the assault, involving victims ‘W’ and ‘N’ , residents of 90 ML, went viral on social media.

Following the video’s circulation, the DPO took notice of the incident. A case was registered at Fatehpur police station against three suspects and 10 unidentified accomplices.

The nominated suspects -- Mohsin, Qayyum and Jamshed -- have been arrested.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2024