PESHAWAR: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has formally launched a full-scale investigation into what is now being called the Kohtistan Mega Corruption Scandal, one of the most extensive and audacious financial frauds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s history.
In a shocking disclosure, NAB KP revealed that assets worth more than Rs 25 billion have been recovered or frozen in connection with the case. These include Rs 1 billion in cash, significant amounts of foreign currency, and over three kilograms of gold. Additionally, 73 bank accounts containing over Rs 5 billion have been sealed.
Authorities have also seized 77 luxury vehicles and 109 properties spread across major cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Abbottabad, and Mansehra. The seized properties comprise farmhouses, commercial plazas and plots, dozens of residential houses, shops and food courts, luxury apartments, penthouses, and extensive agricultural land, with their total estimated value said to be Rs 17 billion.
According to sources, the scam was orchestrated with exceptional cunning, involving a network of government officials, corrupt contractors, and complicit bank officers. The illicit operations continued undetected for years, draining billions from the national exchequer without triggering alarms from any regulatory body.
In a significant breakthrough, NAB has arrested contractor Muhammad Ayub, a central figure in the scandal, whose account alone received Rs 3 billion in suspicious transactions. Investigators allege that Ayub used the embezzled money to purchase a property previously owned by senior politician Azam Swati.
More high-profile arrests are expected within the next 24 to 48 hours as NAB continues its crackdown.
An official said, “This is not just theft, it’s systematic looting with complete disregard for public accountability. We are committed to bringing every individual involved, no matter how influential to justice.”
The nation watches closely as this high-stakes investigation unfolds, potentially reshaping the political and accountability landscape of the province.
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