Punjab orders millions recovered in Auqaf corruption crackdown

The accountability campaign is being carried out under the Punjab government's policy of zero tolerance for corruption, in line

LAHORE: The Punjab Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department has intensified its crackdown on corruption by issuing final recovery notices worth millions of rupees to several current and former officials accused of financial irregularities and the alleged embezzlement of donations and cash offerings collected at shrines across the province.

The accountability campaign is being carried out under the Punjab government’s policy of zero tolerance for corruption, in line with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for transparent governance. The initiative is also being closely monitored by Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman to ensure strict and impartial accountability for losses caused to the public treasury.

Among the most significant cases is that of former Manager Auqaf Tahir Maqsood, who was previously posted at the shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh (RA) in Lahore. He has been served recovery notices totaling more than Rs13.1 million over alleged irregularities in cash collections during the annual Urs celebrations.

Former Administrator Auqaf Sheikh Jameel Ahmad, currently serving as a Junior Scale Stenographer in the Sargodha Zone Office, has also been directed to repay over Rs12 million in connection with alleged discrepancies in Data Darbar’s Urs collections.

In another case, former Research Assistant Hafiz Javed Shaukat of Markaz-e-Maarif-e-Auliya, Mian Mir, Lahore, faces recoveries exceeding Rs6.4 million for alleged financial misconduct linked to Urs and Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) events.

The department has also taken action in the Okara corruption case, where former Manager Auqaf Shafqat Abbas has received recovery notices totaling more than Rs4.7 million. Former Rent Clerk, now Junior Clerk, Zawar Hussain has been ordered to return over Rs1.2 million, while dismissed Senior Clerk Amir Sattar faces recoveries exceeding Rs10.7 million under separate departmental decisions.

Meanwhile, former Manager Auqaf and current Audit Officer Zahid Iqbal has been directed to repay more than Rs5.3 million over the alleged misappropriation of cash offerings at the shrine of Hazrat Bibi Pak Daman (RA). In another case, former Manager Auqaf and current Computer Operator Tariq Mahmood Najmi has been instructed to deposit over Rs1.3 million into the Central Auqaf Fund over alleged financial irregularities involving donations collected at the shrine of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah (RA).

The department stated that all officials concerned have challenged the recovery orders by filing appeals before the Chief Secretary Punjab, acting as the appellate authority. It added that the appeals will be decided strictly in accordance with the applicable laws, rules and regulations.