LAHORE - An anti-corruption court on Friday summoned both parties by August 4 (today) for arguments on a post-arrest bail petition filed by Punjab Livestock Department’s Director General Dr Muhammad Irfan, accused of misappropriating Rs 478 million allocated for a milk processing plant.
Irfan filed his bail petition through his counsel stating that he was innocent and implicated in the case on political grounds. He implored the court to grant him bail. On this, the court summoned both the patties for arguments by August 4.
According to case details, Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) accused Dr Irfan and 12 other officers for embezzling Rs478 million. It has been told that former Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on the request of then MPA Fazal Husain Sumra had issued a directive for the establishment of a milk processing plant at Layyah. The project was a joint venture of the Punjab government and Idara-e-Kisan in which the government had to provide 80 per cent funds and 20 per cent by Idara-e-Kisan, manufacturer of pasteurized milk.
The project was designed to enhance milk production in four districts including Layyah, Jhang Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan in southern Punjab. The Punjab government had given Rs 478 million funds provided by an international donor and Idara-e-Kisan was to make a share of Rs120 million along with the managerial control and to implement the project. However, the Idara with the alleged connivance of livestock and dairy development department officials embezzled the funds.
After preliminary inquiry, the ACE booked DG Dr Irfan Zahid, director, Dr Anwar Hussain, Dr Mansoor Ahmed, Dr Abdul Rauf, Idara-e-Kisan CEO Ameeruddin Bukhari, district livestock officers of Layyah, Jhang, Muzaffargarh and Dera Ghazi Khan along with other officials of the department.