ISLAMABAD: Shocking revelations have emerged regarding a forgery and misappropriation scandal within the Project Civil Circle of Pakistan P.W.D North Zone. It has been disclosed that a contractor fraudulently collected and cleared a cheque amounting to a staggering sum of thirteen million rupees (13 million) from P.W.D.
Sources indicate that the funds were deceitfully credited to dubious accounts, resulting in the contractor absconding to a hideout in Gilgit. The Division issued a cheque under the name of “M/S Farooq Shah” from the Cheque Contractor Firm. Alarmingly, the cheque was cleared by unauthorized representatives, raising questions about their lack of knowledge regarding the debited account.
Authorities have uncovered that the concerned Superintendent Engineer, Mahmood Alam, allegedly has close ties to the suspect. It is alleged that the division and circle offices colluded to clear the cheque from bogus accounts, indicating a systematic breakdown in proper planning and governance.
The scandal goes beyond forgery, as it implicates the final payment of the “Janitorial Work” project at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. Negligence or possible collusion within Division 2 of the Project Civil Circle is currently under investigation. The contractor, Israfil, in connivance with high-ranking officials in the department, managed to abscond with the funds, which were credited to a fraudulent bank account.
M/S Farooq Shah, the aggrieved main contractor, claims that the absconding contractor, Israfil, sought shelter from Mahmood Alam. Additionally, it has come to light that an unauthorized person received a cheque worth thirteen million rupees under pressure from Circle S.E., which is a clear violation of procedures.
In response to these allegations, XEN CC-D2 argues that the cheque was issued in accordance with P.W.D rules and was cleared by authorized representatives associated with the contractor firm. However, he asserts that his responsibility ends after the cheques are cleared, and any discrepancies regarding accounts and cheque clearance lie with the contractors.
This scandal not only exposes the questionable performance of Project Director Mahmood Alam but also raises concerns about flaws within the banking system. Mahmood Alam was unavailable for comment. The unauthorized transfer of funds from the national treasury to a fake bank account highlights the urgent need for reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.
Authorities have pledged to thoroughly investigate the matter and ensure a just conclusion. The repercussions of this scandal are expected to have far-reaching consequences for the credibility and transparency of the P.W.D North Zone.
