NAB arrests Sindh Govt. official over corruption charges

Personal assistant to the Sindh local government (LG) secretary made allegations regarding massive corruption against the local government.

As reported by the Dawn on Wednesday, Muhammad Ramzan Solangi was arrested by Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team from his office at Sindh Secretariat on April 18.

NAB released an investigation report as per which Solangi remained an active part of a systemic and entrenched corruption prevalent in Sindh LG department.

The official "candidly conceded" before the NAB team that he "remained [an] active part of systemic and entrenched corruption prevalent in Sindh LG department," read the NAB investigation report.

Further, a list of beneficiaries has been submitted which reveals a range of officials accused of corruption.

The NAB team conducted a probe at Solangi's residence. It seized cash, bonds, banker travel certificates, jewellery, gold bars and other valuables hidden by him in closets.

The total value of the assets was stated to be over Rs33 million.

The NAB team also seized a chit from Solangi's custody, which he had saved as a "memo" regarding the alleged distribution of "monthly corruption share to minister and officials of LG department, an MNA and others," the investigation report reveals.

Solangi disclosed that LG secretary had allegedly "diverted colossal funds to Solid Waste Management Board and WASA Hyderabad and to various other development schemes of Hyderabad and subsequently embezzled a large chunk of these funds."

Further, it is alleged that there are 600 ghost employees in Lieutenant Governor's department whose salaries are being embezzled by different officials of the department.

Further Rs. 100 million are reported to be embezzled from the budget of District Municipal Corporation (DMC) West of Karachi allocated for fuel consumption on a monthly basis.

Further 50 percent of payments issued for development works are mutually embezzled.

NAB reports recorded 21 different Benami accounts in the name of Solangi.

Earlier on Tuesday, NAB has ordered an inquiry against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and others for allegedly laundering $4.9 billion to India.