Two retailers booked for embezzling BISP funds

MUZAFFARGARH, Mar 13 (APP): Police have registered a case against two retailers in tehsil Kot Sultan for allegedly embezzling funds of the Benazir Income Support Programme meant for a beneficiary woman.
According to police sources, the case was registered at Kot Sultan police station on the complaint of a woman, Razia, who accused the retailers of illegally withdrawing her financial assistance and returning her an empty card.
The FIR states that the accused retailers, Mukhtiar Hussain and Niaz Ukharwand, allegedly received the relief amount from the woman’s card but did not hand over the cash to her. Instead, they returned the card without paying the amount, thereby misappropriating the funds provided under the government welfare programme.
After receiving the complaint, police registered a case against the accused and initiated an investigation into the matter. Officials said efforts were underway to arrest the nominated suspects and recover the misappropriated amount.
Sources said incidents of fraud involving payments under the Benazir Income Support Programme had occasionally been reported in different areas where some retailers or agents allegedly deducted or withheld the funds of beneficiaries.
Police officials stated that strict action would be taken against anyone found involved in corruption or misuse of funds allocated for poor and deserving families.