KHANEWAL - Embezzlement of Rs7 million in the government funds allocated for the upgradation and renovation of the Fazal Park was unearthed but the tehsil municipal administrator is allegedly unwilling to conduct an inquiry into the scam, it is learnt. The park was established in middle of the city for recreational purpose and named after the first deputy commissioner of Khanewal, Syed Fazal Hssain Shah. It was not designed according to the needs of modern era.
On the demand of civil society, Rs7 million was allocated for the upgradation and renovation of the park by former DCO Qazi Ishraq Ahmad. The subsequent DCO, Rashid Mehmood, start implementation of the plan. EDO finance Asghar Bhatti was monitoring the project to ensure proper utilisation of the huge amount. But, the lion's share of the amount sanctioned for the park was embezzled by the contractor with connivance of the EDO finance. In the construction, substandard building material and tiles were utilised while hundreds of trees worth millions of rupees were removed and shifted from the scene to unknown place and sold out through an auction.
However, a major portion of the money earned through the trees' auction was embezzled and a little amount was shown in the record. Due to the public complaints and the media reports, an inquiry was launched by the district administration but the TMA administrator is not willing to conduct the inquiry in a bid to save his colleagues involved in the misappropriation. When contacted, DCO Nadeem Mehbub said that the matter was not in his notice while pledged to take a legal action against the accused.
ANNIVERSARY: Fourth death anniversary of former provincial minster Allah Yar Hiraj was observed at his residence in Civil Lines of Khanewal. A large number of people from all walks of life including MNA Pir Aslam, Ahmad Nadem. Pir Shujaat Hasnain, Murtza, Zafar Hiraj, Arshad Matila, Attaur Rehman, Muneer Akbar and Aamir Hayat attended the gathering.
Religious scholar Mufti Muhammad Ashfaq delivered a lecture on 'death and life and our responsibility as a Muslim'. He urged the attendees to follow in the principles of Islam and abide by the golden rules defined in the Holy Quran and Hadith. He also prayed for the Muslim Ummah and Pakistan besides for the departed soul.