Multi-Million Rupee Corruption Scandal Surfaces in National Assembly Secretariat; Speaker Orders Inquiry Against Sergeant-at-Arms Ashfaq Ashraf
ISLAMABAD: A big financial corruption and fraud case worth hundreds of millions of rupees has been uncovered in the National Assembly Secretariat and formal disciplinary steps have been taken. A comprehensive charge sheet has been filed against Ashfaq Ashraf, Sergeant-at-Arms, and serious allegations have been made against him including fraudulent investment schemes, work visa scams, and extortion of security personnel, among others.Top points of the Corruption Scandal and ChargesInvestment Fraud involving Millions:
The charge sheet alleges that Ashfaq Ashraf illegally made an investment in the name of Rs50 million embezzled from a retired military officer. He has also been charged with running a bogus investment program under the guise of the Speaker’s advisor Muhammad Mushtaq, which promised a high monthly return of 10 per cent.Work Visa Scam:
The Additional Sergeant-at-Arms of the National Assembly was another victim of the alleged fraud, who was allegedly given Rs2.8 million for a work visa in the U.K. for his son.
Financial Exploitation of Security Staff: Parliamentary security staff were also victims of financial misconduct, also known as extortion. The charges are that they were demanding Rs30,000 monthly bribes for giving them duty preference, they would mark someone else as present on duty or they would coerce staff to pay for cigarettes costing Rs30,000 per month and fuel costing Rs200,000 per month.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq instructed a prompt and thorough investigation into the issue, after taking a “serious note” of the developments. Additional Secretary Hussain Raza Zaidi has been appointed to be the inquiry officer and will be asked to furnish a full report within seven days.