PESHAWAR:
In a significant development in the ongoing Upper Kohistan mega corruption case, four additional benamidars (proxy holders) have voluntarily submitted applications to an accountability court to surrender their assets linked to the scandal.
The Accountability Court, presided over by Judge Muhammad Zafar, heard the applications from the four individuals, including one woman, during proceedings in Peshawar. The court recorded their statements and reserved its decision, with a written verdict expected soon.
According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecution, the benamidars are Barkat Ali, Gul Dad, and Aamir Shehzad and a woman. They are described as close relatives of the main accused, Qaiser Iqbal, a former head clerk in the Communication and Works (C&W) Department, Upper Kohistan. Investigations have revealed that millions of rupees in transactions were conducted through their names, with valuable plots and other properties registered in their possession to conceal ownership.
During the hearing, the four benamidars recorded their statements under oath, affirming that they were surrendering the assets voluntarily and without any coercion or pressure. They expressed full consent to transfer the properties to the state.
This latest surrender follows an earlier approval by the court for eight benamidars, who relinquished plots, houses, vehicles, and other assets. Those included close family members and associates of Qaiser Iqbal, such as his sisters, driver, brother-in-law, and others.
The Upper Kohistan corruption scandal, uncovered by NAB Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, involves the alleged embezzlement of over Rs37-40 billion from the national treasury through fake bills, bogus withdrawals, and collusion between C&W department officials, district accounts officers, and contractors. Funds were siphoned from the contractors’ security deposit account without executing actual development work.
Qaiser Iqbal, identified as the mastermind, was arrested in October 2025 along with his wife. NAB has recovered substantial assets, including cash hidden in paint boxes, gold, luxury vehicles, and properties worth billions. In a landmark plea bargain, one of his frontmen (a dumper driver) surrendered assets worth Rs4.05 billion in January 2026, marking one of NAB’s largest single recoveries.
The case has exposed a widespread network of shell companies, proxy accounts, and misappropriated public funds.
