Islamabad Court Reporter
Special Judge Central, Humayun Dilawar, on Wednesday dismissed the post-arrest bail petitions of six accused in the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) mega corruption case, where millions of rupees were allegedly embezzled from employee funds without proper authority.
The court heard the bail petitions filed by accused Muhammad Ghaus, Idrees Chaudhry, Sajid Ali Waraich, Imran Munir, Khurram Shehzad, and Tahir Ghuman. Prominent lawyers Khurram Baig, Rouhail Asghar, and Hasnain Haider Thaheem appeared on behalf of APP during the hearing.
- FIA revealed that during just three years, over PKR 80 million were transferred to the account of former account manager Arshad Majid Chaudhry, with PKR 60 million shown under salary disbursements.
- Similarly, former cashier Azhar Farooq allegedly received nearly PKR 90 million in his personal account.
- APP’s legal team claimed the accused illegally transferred funds from the salary, provident fund (PF), and current accounts of APP without approval from the competent authority.
- APP’s counsel maintained that all 16 accused acted in collusion. Funds were transferred into select accounts, withdrawn, and then shared among the accused.
- One account, listed under the name “AHS”, was found to be linked to Arshad Majid Chaudhry’s CNIC, allegedly used to receive illegal payments.
- Auditors, who were supposed to flag such massive discrepancies, failed to report anything for three years—suggesting complicity.
- Muhammad Ghaus, a former Executive Director, was accused of signing off on the unauthorized fund transfers and writing to AGPR to release funds.
- It was also alleged that Khurram Shehzad, in charge of the Provident Fund, authorized PKR 95 million in cheques, while Sajid Ali Waraich, the former salary and PF account manager, was also implicated during his tenure.
- During arguments, tensions rose as defense lawyers attempted to shift blame. However, the judge focused on the individual roles of the accused and their responsibility in the chain of approvals and audits.
- The judge questioned the lack of internal reporting or objections over large transactions.
- APP lawyers invoked Section 409 PPC (Criminal breach of trust by public servant), stating that the misuse of employees’ pension and PF funds amounted to a serious breach of public trust.
After hearing detailed arguments from both sides, the court reserved the verdict and later dismissed the bail applications of all six accused. The decision reflects the court’s stance on the gravity of financial corruption in public sector institutions.
This case involves 16 accused, with seven currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) initiated proceedings after uncovering a scam involving the embezzlement of millions of rupees from APP’s employee funds. The matter had previously surfaced before the Public Accounts Committee as well.
The FIA continues its investigation, aiming to ensure that public money siphoned off through fake accounts and collusion is recovered, and the responsible individuals are held accountable.
