Hafiz Mumtaz, Former PTI Minister, On ACE Radar In Rs 910 Million Embezzlement Case

Hafiz Mumtaz, Former PTI Minister, On ACE Radar In Rs 910 Million Embezzlement Case
LAHORE: Former Provincial Minister for excise and taxation and PTI leader Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed is currently on Anti-Corruption (ACE) Punjab’s radar for recruiting Patwaris after allegedly receiving rupees Rs 704 million against recruitment of 32 Patwaris in Faisalabad.

Received Rs 704 million against appointment of Patwaris

A senior official of ACE Punjab told TFT that the former minister was summoned twice by the ACE for recruiting Patwaris and taking commission and kickbacks against rewarding contracts for the construction of roads in the local government.

He was previously summoned on March 10 but he didn’t appear before the inquiry team. “He is accused of taking Rs2.2 million from each patwari and there are 32 patwaris being recruited by him,” the official said.

Embezzlement of Rs 200 million in development funds

The officials further said that ACE is also investigating the alleged embezzlement of Rs200 million in the development funds approved from his constituency during PTI’s tenure.

Received bribe worth Rs 6 million against awarding contract for construction of road

Sources further said that they are also investigating the alleged bribe he had received for awarding a contract of constructing a paved road to his blue eyed contractors.

“In this case, ACE has also summoned Sarmad, a local government contractor, Asif, a sub-engineer at local  government,” the official said while adding that DG ACE Sohail Zafar Chattha has also directed the concerned departments to provide the details of all the development works done during the period of Hafiz Mumtaz.

The writer is a senior correspondent at The Friday Times with a focus on politics, economy and militancy. He also hosts the Hassan Naqvi Show on Naya Daur.