By: Shahid Jan
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Communication and Works, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, has linked the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) MNA from Kohistan, Idress Khan, to the Kohistan financial corruption case.
During the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly budget session, Muhammad Sohail Afridi, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Communication and Works, stated that Muhammad Idrees, the PML-N MNA elected from NA-12, is implicated in the Kohistan corruption scandal, and his plaza has been sealed as part of the investigation. Afridi mentioned that Idrees serves as the Managing Director of a company allegedly involved in the embezzlement related to this scandal.
He pointed out that while there has been a case prepared for confiscating properties, the name of the company through which funds were funnelled to PML-N MPA Subiya Shahid has yet to be disclosed. Afridi expressed that if the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has any integrity, it will handle these matters appropriately. He claimed that the corruption involved is predominantly linked to the federal department, indicating that they are complicit in the wrongdoing.
Following Afridi’s speech, the Speaker clarified that although the Special Assistant mentioned the MNA’s name, his construction company is indeed connected to the scandal. However, further discussions are limited because NAB is currently investigating the case. The Speaker emphasised that this issue, which had been raised in the Public Accounts Committee, appears to be a complex interplay of institutions that have manipulated the system, resulting in significant embezzlement from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.
He reiterated that, at this stage, no political figures have been explicitly named as involved, and it remains to be seen who may ultimately be held accountable once NAB completes its investigation. The Speaker praised NAB’s efforts, noting that they have recovered 31 billion so far in connection with this case and urged recognition of their role in addressing the corruption.
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