Wheat scam: Suspension of five accused extended indefinitely

ISLAMABAD: The five senior officers suspended in the wheat scandal for causing losses to the national treasury by importing more wheat than the national requirement have been suspended for an indefinite period.

The Establishment Division has issued notification of the extension of suspension. These officials of the Ministry of National Food Security facing the inquiry were initially suspended for 120 days on May 17, 2024. The period of 120 days of suspension has been completed on September 14. The new orders of suspension will be considered effective from September 14 until the completion of disciplinary proceedings. Among the officers whose suspension has been extended are former Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and grade 21 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, Muhammad Asif; former DG Plant Protection and grade 20 officer AD Abid; former grade 20 officer and Food Security Commissioner Waseem-ul-Hasan; former Director of Plant Protection Department and grade 19 officer Sahil Shehzad and former Food Security Commissioner and grade 20 officer Imtiaz Gopang.