PESHAWAR: The Anti-Corruption Court has handed down a verdict in the high-profile government wheat scandal case, sentencing three accused individuals to seven years in prison and imposing fines totalling PKR 3 million. The judgment was delivered by Judge Asif Rasheed.
The court has further ordered the recovery of losses amounting to around one hundred and ninety million rupees caused to the national exchequer due to corruption.
As per the prosecution, more than three thousand bags of wheat had been stolen from the Azakhail storage unit, resulting in financial loss to the country.
Three of those involved in the theft include the Storage Officer Muhammad Arshad, Assistant Food Controller Khalid Khan, and Talha Muhammad who was formerly working with the organization. Talha Muhammad has been fined one million rupees along with a seven-year jail sentence. Non-payment of the fine would lead to a six-month additional imprisonment period.
Two food inspectors named in the case have been found not guilty due to a lack of evidence. Out of six people accused of stealing the grain, one person is still a fugitive.
This decision of the court has been appreciated in the provincial government circles as a landmark anti-corruption measure.
Anti-corruption team arrests police officer red-handed
On March 19, the Anti-Corruption Establishment of Gilgit-Baltistan successfully conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of a police officer from the Jutial Police Station, caught red-handed while accepting a bribe. This action was taken based on timely information received from an informant.
Details reveal that the police at Jutial Police Station had detained a truck driver due to an issue with a blocked identity card. The accused officer allegedly demanded a bribe from the driver in exchange for his release. Acting on the information, the anti-corruption team set up a trap raid and apprehended the officer along with the bribe money. The suspect was then taken to the Anti-Corruption Police Station.
During the operation, staff from the Jutial Police Station reportedly displayed unprofessional behaviour and attempted to obstruct the arrest. However, the anti-corruption team successfully executed their strategy and apprehended the accused. Legal action is also being initiated against the personnel who interfered with the official proceedings.
