Liquidation Board chief 'involved in corruption'

LAHORE - The Chairman Punjab Cooperatives Liquidation Board (PCBL) Nazar Chohan has been found involved in financial embezzlement and moral corruption, as the Intelligence Bureau has sent a confidential report to the Punjab government, sources revealed here on Saturday. The report (a copy of which is available with TheNation) disclosed that the Chairman PCBL dodged the top provincial hierarchy to create an impression that he had been victimised by the former Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to secure top slot in the present set-up despite he had resigned during the previous regime. The allegation about his moral corruption in his capacity as Chairman PCBL have found to be true and it is learnt that he tries to sexually harass the girls appointed by him on contract basis. The allegations mentioned in the complaint about the girls such as (S, I, H, S, A, A, P and others) have been found true, said the report sent to the Chief Secretary by a leading sensitive agency. Well-placed sources revealed that Mr Nazar Chohan who is also enjoying protocol by getting police squad for his security, is drawing at least Rs 400,000 salary from the national exchequer, had approached the Punjab Chief Minister and complained that the former CM had victimised him and ultimately he had to leave his job. Sources further said that Deputy Secretary Muham-mad Wasim is playing the role of front man for the Chairman in financial irregularities being committed in the department. According to the report, It has been learnt that he (Chairman) had resigned from service during PML-Q regime on June 4, 2003. Later when the PML-N government came into power, the subject reportedly approached the PML-N leadership complaining of his victimisation at the hands of PML-Q leadership and was subsequently posted as Chairman PCBL in August 2008. Whereas, he was never victimised, the report revealed. So far as allegations about Muhammad Wasim are concerned, it is learnt that he was appointed as Clerk in 1998. However, after promotion, he is working as deputy secretary and looking after the affairs pertaining to Administration and Claims (in PCBL). Wasim is learnt to be the front man of Nazar Chohan and is known to be a corrupt person, the report disclosed. It is further learnt that Mr Muhammad Wasim does not sanction /recommend any claim without taking his share, disclosed the report. It was further revealed that Muhammad Wasim uses his friends to file applications for fake claims and after evaluating the same and paying commission to these men, keeps the remaining money. Not enough, the report further says, It is transpired that since 1993 the record of Cooperatives Department regarding liquidation cases pertaining to cooperative scandals has been handed over to PCBL which is the sole authority having enormous powers to evaluate the gaminess or otherwise of the cases. As such the Chairman and the Deputy Secretary are placed in a very crucial position regarding passage of any claim, the report warned. According to sources, the report says, record of claim No 1204 and delivery of Rs 900,000 to Shabir Akhtar son of Muhammad Ramzan as mentioned in the complaint is not traceable in the PCBL record. Moreover, the case about delivery of Rs 5.875 million to one Sakina Bibi is under process and the file is reportedly, lying pending with the Chairman PCBL. Sources in the Punjab government said that following the report of the Intelligence Bureau the appointment of Nazar Chohan is a question mark on the good governance in the Punjab province. They also said that the influential Chairman is using his connections to stop departmental proceeding against him after the report has been forwarded to the Chief Ministers Secretariat and the Chief Secretary Punjab.

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