Punjab orders recovery of millions in Auqaf corruption scandal

The Punjab Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department has launched a major crackdown on corruption, financial irregularities, and embezzlement of donations collected at shrines, issuing recovery notices worth millions of rupees to several serving and former officials, 24NewsHD TV reported on Monday. 

According to sources, among those served with notices is former (dismissed) Manager Auqaf of the shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) in Lahore, Tahir Maqsood.

He has been directed to repay Rs113.24 million over misconduct during the annual Urs and Data Darbar cash recovery, while another recovery notice of Rs18.71 million has also been issued against him.

Former Auqaf Administrator Sheikh Jameel Ahmed, currently serving as a junior-scale stenographer in the Sargodha Zone office, has been served recovery notices of Rs92.65 million and Rs28.07 million over alleged irregularities related to Urs arrangements and cash collections.

Former Research Assistant at Markaz-e-Maarif-e-Auliya, Mian Mir, Lahore, Hafiz Javed Shaukat has received recovery notices amounting to Rs43.18 million and Rs21.03 million for alleged financial irregularities during Urs celebrations and Eid Milad-un-Nabi events.

In the Okara corruption case, former (dismissed) Manager Auqaf Shafqat Abbas has been served recovery notices of Rs12.04 million and Rs35.28 million.

In the same case, former Rent Clerk and current Junior Clerk Zawar Hussain has been ordered to repay Rs12.04 million.

Another accused in the Okara case, former (dismissed) Senior Clerk Aamir Sattar, has been directed under two separate decisions to repay Rs36.14 million and Rs71.11 million.

The department has also issued a recovery notice of Rs53.86 million to former Manager Auqaf and current Audit Officer Zahid Iqbal in connection with alleged corruption involving donation boxes at the shrine of Hazrat Bibi Pak Daman (RA).

Similarly, former Manager Auqaf and current Computer Operator Tariq Mehmood Najmi has been served a recovery notice of Rs. 13.18 million over alleged financial irregularities in donations collected at the shrine of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah (RA).

According to the Punjab Auqaf Department, all the officials concerned have filed appeals before the Punjab Chief Secretary, acting as the appellate authority.

The department said the appeals will be decided in accordance with the applicable laws, rules, and regulations.