KP’s ex-minister exposes billion-rupee corruption scandal

FORMER Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Shakeel Khan has made stunning claims and said his ministry's secretary distributed payments totalling Rs6.87 billion to contractors without his knowledge or consent. He made the claim in a written declaration presented to the provincial Good Governance Committee.

According to Mr Khan, during May and June of this year, the secretary allocated Rs6.87 billion for development projects. When questioned about the enormous fund disbursement and allegations of collecting a 10-20 per cent commission, the secretary reportedly said the development took place under the chief minister’s oversight.

He stated that when the ruling party’s senior and legislative leaderships were notified of corruption, ongoing fraud in the department, mismanagement, and non-cooperation, they proposed exposing all the black sheep by entering the “system”. The former minister said that in order to get to the bottom of the crime and expose the individuals involved, he began cultivating a relationship with the secretary.

Mr Khan also said that he was offered a bribe of Rs30 million by his secretary, which was then upped to Rs50 million, plus the promise of a new automobile in exchange for him to cover up the scandal. He claims he declined the offer and decided to expose the scheme.

The secretary told him, he alleged, that Rs200 million was handed to the chief minister and Rs100 million was provided to powerful circles on the chief minister’s orders. Furthermore, the extra chief secretary was granted Rs35 million in commission, while the secretary of the finance department received Rs25 million. Mr Khan said that the C&W secretary then gave him Rs50 million, but he rejected the offer.

He further revealed that in a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail on July 31, he provided all the details of the case, prompting the former prime minister to direct him to organise a news conference to send a message to all provincial ministers, administrative secretaries and officers.

Mr Khan also revealed that a corporation owned by federal minister Amir Muqam received millions in Swat through collusion.

On the other hand, KP Law Minister Aftab Alam addressed Shakeel Khan’s expulsion on corruption accusations, claiming that there were no disagreements within the party. He lauded Mr Khan as an ‘asset to the party’ and expressed optimism that the situation will be resolved quickly.

Mr Alam said there is unity and accord among members, and that the problem is being handled as a private matter inside the party.