PESHAWAR: Startling revelations have come to light in the Kohistan Mega Corruption Scandal, the biggest financial fraud in the history of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the ongoing investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has so far recovered valuable assets worth Rs 25 billion, including cash, foreign currency, gold, luxury vehicles, several bank accounts and a wide range of properties.
According to official records, NAB has converted the initial inquiry into the scandal into a regular investigation, after which the proceedings have been intensified. According to sources, more than one billion rupees in cash, foreign currency, and more than three kilograms of gold have been seized in the investigation so far. Moreover, 73 bank accounts in various commercial banks have been frozen, containing around Rs5 billion. Along with this, 77 expensive luxury vehicles have also been seized by NAB, which are being considered as a symbol of the scale of financial irregularities and lavish lifestyle.
The investigation has also revealed that a total of 109 properties located in different cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Abbottabad and Mansehra have also been taken into custody, the market value of which is estimated to be more than Rs17 billion. These properties include farmhouses, commercial plazas, residential houses, apartments, shops, agricultural land and other valuable assets.
According to NAB sources, the main role in this major financial fraud is played by contractor Muhammad Ayub, who has already been arrested. Suspicious transactions worth Rs3 billion have come to light in Ayub’s bank accounts. Moreover, it has also been revealed that a part of the stolen funds was allegedly used to purchase the property of former Senator Azam Swati.
According to initial evidence, the fraud was planned in a very systematic manner, involving government officials, corrupt contractors, bank insiders and other influential elements. They worked with such care and skill that no financial monitoring agency could detect it in time.
Sources say that NAB teams are currently active across the country and more important arrests are expected in the next 24 to 48 hours. This scandal has not only exposed the national loss of billions of rupees but has also made it clear how serious the flaws are in the current financial monitoring system, which can pave the way for such corruption cases in the future.
According to sources, more layers of this scandal will come to light soon, and they are trying to bring all the elements involved to justice so that the protection of public money can be ensured.
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