PESHAWAR: In a significant development in the long-running Kohistan financial scandal, an Accountability Court has ordered the confiscation of more than Rs. 29.8 million allegedly linked to corrupt transactions.
Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Zafar issued the detailed written verdict on Friday. The court conducted hearings and recorded the statements of two key accused: Muhammad Riaz and Jahanzaib.
According to the verdict, during the hearing accused Jahanzaib told the court that transactions had taken place in an account held at the National Bank of Pakistan, Dasu Branch, Kohistan. The prosecution presented evidence linking the account to suspicious financial activity related to development funds allocated for Kohistan district.
The court, after reviewing the record and statements, ordered that the amount of Rs. 29.8 million and above found in connection with the case be confiscated and deposited into the government treasury.
The Kohistan financial scandal is one of the largest corruption cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It involves allegations of embezzlement of billions of rupees meant for development projects, road construction, and infrastructure in Kohistan district.
The case came to light after audits revealed massive irregularities in payments made to contractors and officials between 2016 and 2022. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other agencies have been investigating multiple accounts, fake bills, and ghost projects linked to the scandal.
Several government officials, bank employees, and contractors have already been arrested or are under investigation in connection with the case. Legal experts say the confiscation of Rs. 29.8 million is an important step toward recovering public money.
The Accountability Court noted that further investigation and trial proceedings against other suspects in the case will continue. The court has directed relevant authorities to ensure that the confiscated funds are transferred to the state exchequer and to submit a compliance report in the next hearing. The Kohistan scandal remains under close watch as authorities attempt to recover more assets and hold those responsible accountable.
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