Sukkur, The National Accountability Bureau (NAB ) Sukkur in line with NAB’s mandate to eradicate corruption and to recover looted money from corrupt elements is conducting an inquiry on food scam in which NAB Sukkur had already recovered Rs. 10.612 Billion from the accused.
In a statement issued here said a few cotton ginners were called due to their involvement in food cases, who entered into plea bargain amounting to Rs. 160,615,975/- & Rs. 15,786,098/- and admitted their guilt before the Accountability Court.
The allegations against M/s Faqeer Cotton Factory Ghotki were misappropriation of govt wheat.
NAB Sukkur has strongly denies all such allegations leveled by Pakistan Cotton & Ginners Association which is part of a malicious propaganda to malign the working of NAB Sukkur and to exert undue pressure on NAB regarding ongoing official proceedings against the corrupt elements.
Further, NAB Sukkur also unearths a network of Food department and other government officers and officials which are allegedly involved therein.
The network was operating since 2016 in an organized manner and on a large scale. The network consisted of Flour Mill owners, middle men, lower and top brass of food department and others. I
n order to further expose the illegal and unlawful activities of network, NAB Sukkur has initiated probe as per law in district Ghotki. The owner of M/s Shahanshah Flour Mill was arrested. During the course of inquiry / investigation, the record revealed that Flour Mill owners collected huge amount of money from flour mill owners of district Ghotki in the pretext of getting relief from Food Minister, Secretary Food, Director Food, Deputy Director Food and District Food Controller. The collected money for public office holders by both individuals is approximately more than one billion. The relaxation to mill owners was given in four ways.
Firstly, mill owners got undue relief in issuance of bardana to few flour mill owners instead of real growers. Secondly, the food department gave relief illegally by declaring flour mills, cotton mills and rice mills as PRCs instead of reserving the wheat at govt owned godowns. Thirdly, mill owners got relief unlawfully in relaxation of payment in 180 days under the garb of credit policy. Fourthly, the food department with malafide intentions gave relief to the owners of flour mills and cotton factories to sell the Govt wheat kept / reserved at their mills. The cronies of Mahesh Kumar and Ashok Kumar who collected money from various flour mill owners, cotton factories and Rice Mills are still at large. On the revelation of arrested accused persons namely Ashok Kumar, owner of Shehanshah Flour Mill (Key Member of Network), accused Abdul Rasheed Chachar, Inspector Food Department Ghotki was arrested, span of investigation has been enhanced to conclude the cases in a logical manner under the policy of zero tolerance against corruption to make Pakistan corruption free.