Peshawar: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has officially elevated its investigation into the massive corruption scandal in Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, from an inquiry to a full-fledged investigation. This decisive step follows the uncovering of further disturbing details that reveal the depth and sophistication of the fraud.
According to official records, assets worth approximately Rs. 25 billion have been recovered and seized to date. NAB has confiscated over Rs. 1 billion in cash and foreign currency, along with more than three kilograms of gold. Additionally, 73 bank accounts across various commercial banks, containing over Rs. 5 billion, have been frozen.
The agency has also seized 77 luxury vehicles and taken control of 109 properties spread across multiple cities, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Abbotabad, and Mansehra. These assets comprise four farmhouses, 12 commercial plots, 30 residential houses, 12 shops and food courts, 25 flats and penthouses, and 175 canals of agricultural land. The total estimated value of these properties is around Rs. 17 billion.
Sources within the government indicate that the arrest of key individuals involved in the scandal is expected within the next 24 to 48 hours. Preparations are actively underway to apprehend those responsible for this massive fraud.
This extensive fraud was executed with extraordinary cunning, involving a nexus of corrupt government officials, unscrupulous contractors, complicit banking authorities, and other accomplices. The perpetrators operated with apparent impunity, siphoning billions from the national treasury without triggering financial oversight mechanisms.
Among those apprehended is contractor Muhammad Ayub, who played a significant role in the scandal. It is reported that approximately Rs. 3 billion was transferred to his account. Furthermore, Ayub allegedly purchased a house belonging to Azam Swati using the embezzled funds.
The NAB’s relentless crackdown signals a serious effort to hold accountable all those involved in the Kohistan corruption scandal. With ongoing investigations and imminent arrests, authorities are determined to recover stolen assets and ensure justice for the billions siphoned from public resources
