KARACHI - Anti Corruption and Establishment (AC&E) Karachi has registered a case against former director parks of KMC and other 15 officials including six contractors of the department for their alleged involvement in corruption of Rs380 million in the construction of Benazir Park. With 80 per cent development work completed, the under construction 'Benazir Park', located in Clifton area of city, initiated by the then CDGK with an estimated cost of Rs1.230 billion. In poor Pakistan which is always asking for aid for IDP's.When the director parks showed a bill of Rs1 crore for installation of main gate of the park, it created suspicion of corruption, and the investigation in the financial matters of the development work of this scheme was initiated. According to the officials, the director parks in connivance with the contractor showed exaggerated rates of material used in the scheme. When contacted, Director (AC&E) Javed Baloch told TheNation that a special team of Anti Corruption, couple of month ago conducted an inquiry into the alleged corruption. The financial embezzlement of Rs.380million has been found in the initial investigation of the inquiry into the development work of park, which is under construction, he confirmed.He informed that former Director Parks of KMC Liaqut Ali and 15 other officials of KMC and 6 contractors were found involve in the embezzlement of this scheme.However, Anti Corruption department on Friday registered a FIR 9/2012 against 22 peoples including former Director Parks of KMC Liaqut Ali on the complaint of the state, alleging financial embezzlement in the development work in Benazir Bhutto Park.
Director AC&E Javed Baloch said that team of Anti Corruption also conducted raids in different locations to arrest the people nominated in the case but no one was arrested It is pertinent to mention here that KMC Administration, two days ago on May 3, 2012, had issued a notification relieving the director parks Liaqut Ali, who was working on contract basis and appointed as consultant of director parks and horticulture department of KMC. The same officer has been nominating in the FIR under allegation of financial embezzlement of Rs380 million in the development work of Benazir Bhutto Park, but the administrator has appointed the same officer as consultant of KMC.KMC has always been one of the hottest seats for corruption leaving vast open spaces for people to lay hands on large amounts of government money.