Rs40bn Kohistan scandal: PAC irked by AG’s transfer, summons officials

PESHAWAR: Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, has expressed strong displeasure over the sudden transfer of the province’s Accountant General, Naseer-ud-Din Sarwar, during the inquiry into the Rs40 billion Kohistan scandal.

In a letter dated May 22, 2025, addressed to the Controller General of Accounts in Islamabad, the chairman conveyed serious concerns over the transfer and demanded an explanation from the authorities.

Naseer-ud-Din has now been appointed as Director General of Investigation, Vigilance, and Regulation, where he will be in charge of irregularity investigations.

The letter, written on behalf of the Speaker by the Additional Secretary of the PAC to the Controller General of Accounts, highlights the committee’s concerns regarding the timing and impact of the transfer. The letter clarifies that the Public Accounts Committee is currently investigating illegal payments and embezzlement amounting to Rs40 billion in the Upper Kohistan Works Division for the fiscal years 2019 to 2024.

The committee emphasised that such financial irregularities could not have occurred without the collusion or negligence of certain officials. In a recent session, it was revealed that official corruption had led to serious mismanagement of public finances, necessitating transparent investigations and accountability.

In this context, Mr Sarwar had been instructed to take action against corrupt officials. According to the committee, his sudden transfer could derail ongoing investigations and efforts to expose financial misconduct.

The letter also directs the federal office to fulfill its constitutional obligations under Articles 169 and 170 and to fully cooperate with the PAC. The committee has also demanded that Mr Sarwar be instructed to continue his role in the investigation, and that the federal department concerned must appear before the committee in its next session. Copies of the letter have been forwarded to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly and the Auditor General of Pakistan.