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ISLAMABAD, Oct 20 (APP):The Ministry of Railways has submitted a detailed inquiry report to the Sub-Committee of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Railways, concluding that corruption allegations against former Divisional Superintendent (DS) Multan, Mahmood Lakho, in connection with a leaked audio clip related to the lease of the Bahawalnagar Railway Hospital, were baseless and unsubstantiated.
According to the inquiry, conducted by Sufyan Sarfraz Dogar, Director General of the Pakistan Railway Academy Walton, there was no evidence to suggest that the former DS sought or obtained any illegal financial benefit in the hospital lease process.
The sub-committee meeting, chaired by Malik Abrar Ahmed, was held at the Parliament House on Monday.
Secretary Railway Board Rahat Mirza informed the committee that the inquiry established the hospital building mentioned in the audio has been operating for the past 15 years as a welfare hospital in Bahawalnagar, providing free or low-cost medical services to the public.
During the proceedings, lease applicant Zahid Mahmood Khan submitted both written and verbal statements confirming that no railway official had ever demanded or received any bribe or illegal benefit.
He further stated that he and his brothers, Dr Tayyab Mahmood and Dr Tahir Mahmood, have been managing the hospital on a purely charitable basis, and that he has never met or known Mahmood Lakho personally.
The lease process, he said, was completed formally and transparently through the Railways’ Directorate of Land.
The report also noted that portions of the leaked audio were taken out of context to create a misleading impression and harm the reputation of the former DS.
It concluded that the allegations made through the leaked audio were fabricated, malicious, and unfounded, recommending that the case be closed and filed.
It further observed that certain elements intentionally spread false information to damage the reputation of a railway officer — claims that were completely disproven by facts and evidence.
Convener Malik Abrar Ahmed stated that since the lease applicant himself had sworn that the allegations were baseless, the committee had accepted the inquiry findings.
However, he expressed concern that the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) Railways had earlier misrepresented facts during a meeting in Karachi in the presence of committee members.
After reviewing the statements from both sides and the inquiry report, the sub-committee formally closed the matter.