A shameful story of corruption has come to light in the Afghan Commissionerate Peshawar, with Transport Officer Noor Shad and his associates as the main characters. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has received a written application from a citizen named Hamza Khan, exposing the large-scale scams taking place in the institution. Noor Shad, who is posted as a Transport Officer in the institution, is not only involved in corruption himself but is also engaged in looting government resources along with his colleagues and higher officials.

Noor Shad is accused of using fuel allocated for UNHCR vehicles for his own use and that of his relatives. He continues to steal petrol and diesel by cutting official receipts. In addition, funds worth crores of rupees have been embezzled in the name of vehicle repairs, most of which allegedly goes into the pockets of Noor Shad and the Commissioner. Surprisingly, Noor Shad is also accused of selling engines and other parts of government vehicles for personal gain.

The story of this corruption does not end here. Noor Shad, also known as the “Bengal of the Plate”, has also been dishonest in the vehicles allocated to various project directors. Evidence of widespread corruption has been found in the distribution of these vehicles.

According to reports, Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s relatives were given zero-meter vehicles, which are neither seen in the field nor in office use. Similarly, another character named Shakeel Safi is accused of having consumed fuel and other resources of dozens of vehicles in the name of Amir Muqam.

Noor Shad’s personal life also raises questions about his character. It is said that his father was a Maulvi, while Noor Shad himself used to do things like holding pillows for people at dance and song gatherings. He was appointed as a transport officer without any educational qualifications or recruitment advertisement.

This appointment was allegedly made so that the Commissioner Afghan Refugee could get him to do his most sensitive personal work, which is not considered appropriate to mention in this column.

This situation is extremely worrying that an institution that was established for the welfare of refugees has become a hotbed of corruption. The question arises whether Amir Muqam, who is a minister of two ministries, is so compelled that he is patronizing those who are wiping their hands of the refugees’ charity funds?

The corruption of Noor Shad and his associates has not only tarnished the reputation of the institution but has also robbed the rights of the refugees. The National Accountability Bureau is demanded to immediately investigate this serious corruption and bring those responsible to justice so that the looting of government resources can be stopped.