NAB arrests former DG FDMA again

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has re-arrested accused Arshad Khan, ex-director general Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA) along with his front man Dr Muhammad Arif allegedly involved in accumulation of illegal assets worth millions of rupees.

As per details, the matter was brought into the notice of NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities. Taking cognizance of the matter, inquiry was authorised to ascertain the real facts and collect requisite evidence regarding moveable and immovable properties owned, controlled and possessed by the accused in his name and in the name of his dependents etc.

During the course of inquiry, it was revealed that the accused, Arshad Khan, remained posted on key positions i.e. DCO Malakand, DG FDMA and DG Excise from 2008 to 2014.

The accused piled assets worth millions of rupees during his tenure as DG FDMA, in his name and in the name of his real brother Dr Muhammad Arif. Their illegal properties, disproportionate to their known sources of income including a 10-marla house at Askari VI, Nasir Bagh Road Peshawar, 25-marla Hujra at Mouza Malakander, Peshawar, 5-marla Awami Villa at Bahria Town, Rawalpindi, 43-marla commercial plot at University Road, Peshawar acquired in 2013 worth Rs70 million, 2 expensive plots in Kanjoo Town Swat and both operating different joint bank accounts wherein transactions of millions of rupees was being made. It merits a mention here that the accused Arshad Khan had already been arrested by NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, involved in fabricating 161 bogus (fake) survey forms in Mohmand Agency.

A cash recovery of Rs31 million has been made by this Bureau in the instant case.

A reference of Rs59.6 million has already been filed in the Accountability Court Peshawar for Mohmand Agency Funds embezzlement and another reference of about Rs300 million is in the pipeline against the accused Arshad Khan for his involvement in looting of funds meant for compensation of affectees after operation against the miscreants in Bajaur Agency. NAB Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is actively pursuing the case and more properties are expected to be unearthed.

ECP to achieve goal of gender equality in elections: CEC

ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Justice retired Sardar Raza Khan on Tuesday said that ECP is committed to achieve the goal of gender equality in the general elections in 2018 in line with the Constitution of Pakistan, international human rights standards conventions and treaties.

He said this after inauguration of a first-ever Gender and Disability Electoral Working Group (GDEWG) and Gender section in the ECP library at the Election Commission Secretariat. The purpose of the establishment of GDEWG was to enhance participation of women in the electoral process as voters, candidates, electoral administrators and observers, he added.

CEC said that ECP encourages women to join it as employees both at the secretariat as well as field offices and for that purpose ECP is providing a better working environment to its women employees.

Initially GDEWG will be a one year initiative which will work as a platform for gender reforms in electoral processes in 2016 wherein ECP will be working with Ministry of Human Rights, Minister of Law and Justice, Planning and Development Division, UNDP, IFES, DRI, ROZAN, RSPN, Oxfam, G.B Insan Foundation,

 Action Aid Care International and Aurat Foundation, said spokesman of the Commission.

This working group will also strive for the increased participation of the disabled persons of the society into the electoral process by facilitating them in their registration as voters and casting of votes during elections, he added. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by foreigners, women representatives of the Parliament, political parties and civil society organizations.