FIA launches probe against Passco inspector, brother

LAHORE
The Lahore Assets Enquiry Unit (AEU) of Federal Investigation Agency has launched the first enquiry against former purchase inspector of Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation Ltd (Passco), and his brother, a former clerk of district council Hafizabad.
Both have been charged with accumulating assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
According to the FIA sources, the enquiry has been initiated on a complaint, a copy of which is available with The News, of one Muhammad Gulzar, son of Ghulam Rasool of Hafizabad.
The complainant alleged that both the accused - Rasheed Anwar of Passco and ex-clerk Muhammad Sarwar - not only accumulated wealth illegally but also caused a loss of around Rs2 billion to the national exchequer only in contracts of road construction in Hafizabad. He demanded an inquiry to ascertain facts.
Under-matriculate Rasheed Anwar was appointed as a watchman to Passco in Hafizabad, and later on was promoted illegally as a purchase inspector on a fake Matriculation certificate.
Ghulam Rasool alleged that illegal activities of Rasheed could be checked from his personal file which was in possession of the Passco officials of Hafizabad. He alleged that to dodge the Income Tax Department, the two brothers adopted a unique method. They used to demand money from foreigners into their accounts and pay it in cash or through bank account to their relatives.
Rasheed later got appointed his brother Muhammad Sarwar as a clerk in 1995 to the district council, Hafizabad. Both have transferred illegally accumulated assets/properties in the name of their family members and relatives, the applicant alleged.
The application mentions properties/assets Rasheed and Sarwar own in Hafizabad including Usman Shopping Centre worth Rs200 million at Alipur Road, Hafizabad, Usman Plaza worth Rs50 million, Fawwara Chowk, Hafizabad, seven acres of land worth Rs90 million in Usman Town, Alipur Road, Hafizabad, Usman Petrol Pump worth Rs20 million, Alipur Road, Hafizabad, two commercial shops worth Rs20 million in Hafizabad, 32 acres of agricultural land worth Rs48 million in Hardo Dhunoey, eight acres of agricultural land worth Rs 10 million in Sagar Khurd, five acres of agricultural land worth Rs7.5 million in Thatha Kaliyan, 10 acres of agricultural land worth Rs8 million in Bahri Tarar, four acres of agricultural land worth Rs 10 million in Jharinawala, Shops/godown worth around Rs16.5 million in Fawwara Chowk, Hafizabad, seven acres of agricultural land worth Rs30 million in Ghari Ghous, four combine harvest machines worth around Rs6 million, stocks of rice worth around Rs50 million, 20 acres of land in Model Town, Gujranwala Road, Hafizabad worth around Rs50 million, stock rice worth around Rs70 million, buildings in Usman Town, Alipur Road Hafizabad, worth Rs15 million.
The complainant claimed that father of Rasheed and Sarwar named Khan Muhammad owned only 3-4 acres of agricultural land. Then how come his children managed to make such a huge properties and lands within a decade or so, he raised the question.
The Assets Enquiry Unit has been made functional throughout the country to catch all big fish.
The Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and FIA (Enquiry and Investigation) Rules 2002 empowered the federal agency to hold an enquiry into illegal accumulation of wealth.
On the directions of FIA Director General Akbar Khan Hoti, FIA Punjab Lahore Zone Director Dr Usman Anwar has constituted an eight-member body, led by Additional Director ACC Lahore Syed Fareed Khan and comprising Khalid Anees, Assistant Director, Kashif Mustafa, AD, Azmat Javed Mughal, AD, Nayyer Tirmizi, Inspector, Javed Sultan Inspector, Imran Bhatti, Sub-Inspector, Aftab Gohar, SI and Ghulam Murtaza Bajwa, SI.
Dr Usman Anwar has appointed Khalid Anees and Aftab Gohar as the enquiry officers.
Khalid Anees confirmed to The News on Saturday he had been assigned the task of holding an enquiry against Rasheed Anwar and Muhammad Sarwar.
Efforts were made on Saturday to contact Rasheed Anwar at his cell phone number 0300———- but he did not respond till filing of the report.