Ex-ADAO Hyderabad held on corruption charges

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested Mushtaq Ahmed Shaikh, former Additional District Accounts Officer (ADAO) Hyderabad, from Karachi whose physical remand of 14 days has been given in NAB custody by the Accountability Court, Hyderabad. The arrest was caused by the special investigation team constituted by DG NAB Karachi Major Shabbir Ahmed (R) under the directives and vision of Chairman NAB Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on zero tolerance against corruption. The arrest was caused on the basis of interrogation of accused persons in NAB's custody.
A search operation was conducted on the information of accused Mushtaq Shaikh at his residences, farm-house, wedding hall and his places of illegal business located at Hala district Matiari. Several properties worth over Rs one billion were found to be in possession of the accused person that have been acquired and accumulated from proceeds of offences of corruption and embezzlement of government funds, held in his own name and in the names of his close relatives and benamidars. Following properties along with original Treasury bills (equivalent to financial instruments/cash) worth Rs one billion have also been recovered, that the accused was about to send for clearing process, have been recovered and seized:
a. Cash Rs 17.3 million including prize bonds.
b. Cash Saudi Riyals 37016
c. Gold Ornaments - 3 Kilograms (approx.)
d. Vehicles: Ownership documents of 9x vehicles held. Recovered vehicles include one Land Cruiser PARDO imported in January 2017: Toyota Corolla 2015: Honda Civic 2014: Toyota Viz Daihatsu MIRA
e. One RADO+ One Tagheuer wrist watches
f. Document of 2x Bungalows in DHA Karachi
g. Document of 2x Plots in DHA Karachi
h. Document of 2x Plot in Bahria Sports City Karachi
i. 2x Houses in Hala
j. One farm House including 45 Acres land in Hala
k. Livestock (85 Buffaloes, 31 Cows, 30 Goats, 3 Deer, 4 Peacocks)
l. 200 x acres Agriculture land in Hala
m. 3 x Houses in Qasimabad Hyderabad
n. 2 x Flats in Hyderabad
o. Saving Certificates of Rs 100,000/-
p. Documents of investment in EMAAR Giga Karachi of Rs 40 million
q. 31x Cheques books of various banks accounts
r. Hundreds of Original Treasury record illegally kept at house
It may be noted that Mushtaq Ahmed Shaikh and Yousuf Khanzada are already facing trial in a separate Reference No 27/2016 filed on 10th December 2016 along with Ayaz Ahmed Abro former Accountant, Ahsanullah Abro, former sub-accountant District Accounts Office Hyderabad and Abu Bakar former Head Constable Sindh Reserve Police (SRP) Hyderabad. The said accused persons collectively returned to the national exchequer amount of Rs 97 million only from years 2012 to 2013. However, on their failure to deposit entire amount to the national exchequer, they were sent up for trial as accused persons in the said Reference. The said investigation/Reference, however, led to other clues when available evidence related to treasury was further processed and trail was followed. Money trail led to Mushtaq Ahmed Shaikh, the then ADAO and his benamindars.
The preliminary interrogation has revealed that while the accused person was in service, he misused his authority by fraudulently preparing bogus bills, as well as, mixing some bogus bills in lot of genuine bills, in favor of bogus beneficiaries under the heads of difference bills, pension, GP fund, salaries and allowances and got them processed and cleared through various bank accounts opened in connivance with various bankers. The accused has remained linchpin in an organized crime and process of money laundering; and has been operating a large gang consisting of private persons and incumbents of various District Accounts Offices who have been jointly and severally in connivance with each other, getting bogus payments cleared and subsequently cash withdrawn. The interrogation has also revealed that the accused, even after his retirement, has been operating privately as facilitator in consideration of kickbacks and commissions; and has continued with his corrupt practice without impunity.
It may be noted that such corrupt practice on the part of District Accounts Office has continued over many years without impunity, until only recently when automated systems were placed for processing of treasury bills. The regulatory offices have not been successful in putting curbs on it, as a consequence of which tax money and precious Government exchequer has been squandered away. The preventive reports and advisories under section 33 (C) of National Accountability Ordinance 1999 have time to time been issued to the concerned authorities in this regard, highlighting modus operandi and suggestions to enforce internal accountability controls.-PR