Islamabad: An investigation committee pointed to the people of the millions of rupees in the Zakat Fund and recommended the action against the officials involved in corrupt practice.
The sources said that an investigation committee, which was formed in October 2024, recently completed its finding, pointing out alleged embezzlement of several officials of the district administration and the local president of the Zakat committee.
After receiving information about the misuse of the fund, a preliminary investigation was ordered that indicated the alleged corrupt practices. “Subsequently, we refer the matter to the FIA for proper investigation,” said Chief Commissioner Mohammad Ali Randhawa.
Talking with SunriseHe said the fund was destined for deserving and disadvantaged people; Therefore, I personally monitored the investigation, “he said.” The FIA will properly investigate the matter, and any person convicted would face strict action, “he said.
The commissioner says that the matter referred to the FIA after preliminary investigation; Researchers propose external audit
According to the sources, reports on undue appropriation in the Zakat Fund that involves certain government officials, as well as the formation of 185 alleged local Zakat committees of local Zakat emerged in October.
Subsequently, the Chief Commissioner ordered an investigation into the matter by forming a preliminary investigation body. The committee after investigating the matter and registering statements from the officials in question recommended that the matter be sent to the FIA.
The Research Report has been shared with the Ministry of Interior for continuous presentation to the Federal Research Agency for a “detailed investigation into corrupt practices in the Islamabad Zakat and Ushr committee and starts criminal procedures against the people found involved in The embezzlement of Zakat funds. “
The committee recommended that a provincial council of Zakat be established according to section 14 of the Zakat and Ushr Ordinance to supervise the performance and issues of the Islamabad Zakat and Ushr committee.
He said that the Zakat and Ushr committee and local committees in Islamabad can be suspended and that an administrator can be appointed immediately, adding that the elections will be held within a period of six months, disagreeing the headlines as disqualified.
The report also requested a special audit to determine the embezzlement. The report says that a stenotipist was asked to join the investigation, but did not join, recommending that a case to dismiss the service began.
The Zakat district officer was responsible for ensuring the registration in the Zakat office, but the registration related to several committees was missing, and added that the official was not authorized to constitute the local committee, but formed eight committees that abuse his authority .
In addition, he revealed that an official of the Zakat district office, who is working in the administrative wing of the Chief Commissioner’s office, can be repatriated to his department.
There were also accusations against the audit officer but without any documentary evidence. However, the report said it can be directed to make a complete internal audit of the local committees, hospitals and institutions of Zakat where the fund was assigned and presented the report within two months. He also said that the subsequent audit report will be compared to the external audit report.
The report also recommended the forensic audit of “false checks must be made to determine the writing and signature of [the] president [of] Izuc “.
The Investigation Committee also recommended that the Zakat officer of the District officer be renewed and the officials are permanently published to administer the office efficiently, and added that vacancies are filled priority.
“Finally, efforts must be made to verify the beneficiaries through biometric records in consultation with Nadra … to guarantee transparency in the dispensation of Zakat’s funds to deserving people and the prevention of corrupt practices,” The report concluded.
Posted in Dawn, January 29, 2025