Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Ehtesab Bureau has arrested five top officials of forest department on the charge of loss of worth millions of rupees to state exchequer and violation of international laws in extraction of protected precious medicinal herb from Neelum valley.
On the directive of Ehtesab Bureau, police on Saturday arrested chief conservator forest Sardar Farooq Khan, ex-conservator Munir Awan, Range Officers Khawaja Tahir, Rahimullah, Waqir Akhtar and protected herb Kuth extractor Mian Ikhlaq Rasool from their offices and shifted them to Ehtesab Bureau's sub jail Thori Park Rest House.
They were allegedly involved in an excessive extraction of protected medicinal herb Kuth (Saussurea lapa) from Neelum valley during 1998-1999 causing a loss of Rs 17.5 millions to national exchequer.
They were also charged of violating international law of protected herbs. They will be produced before the Ehtesab Court for remand on May 24.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004

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