PPP accused of diverting K-P flood funds, relief items, Rs3m Iftar spent at Governor’s House
Money earmarked for flood victims in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was instead used for personal use by members of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), according to allegations presented before the Peshawar High Court on Wednesday.
“Recently, the governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, appointed a new Pakistan Red Crescent Society’s (PRCS) chairperson and formed a managing board,” the petitioner’s lawyer stated. “The PRCS chairman and managing board were originally established in 2022,” the petitioners’ lawyer stated, with the appointments made in August that year.
“The assets and resources of Pakistan Red Crescent Society are being used for political purposes,” the petitioner’s lawyer argued, contending that appointments were made to accommodate PPP members and supporters.
Read: Over 406 lives lost in K-P floods since August 15
The accusations, detailed in a petition challenging recent appointments to the Pakistan Red Crescent Society’s provincial chapter, paint a picture of systematic diversion of humanitarian aid for political purposes, from infrastructure projects in officials’ hometowns to lavish iftar dinners at the K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi’s residence.
According to the petition, funds intended for disaster relief were channeled through a non-tendered contract to build infrastructure in Azam Killa and Kotka Doulat Khan, the home villages of Vice Chairperson Farzand Wazir. The contract was allegedly awarded to Aziz Khan Constructions without competitive bidding.
A division bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Waqar Ahmad heard testimony from the petitioner’s counsel detailing what he characterised as “systemic corruption, political interference, and misuse of humanitarian aid” within the organisation.
Read more: Death toll from K-P floods crosses 350
The allegations extend beyond infrastructure projects. According to the petition, 500 emergency tents were unlawfully transferred from Red Crescent warehouses to Mandhra village in Dera Ismail Khan, the home constituency of the provincial governor, despite the area not being flood-affected.
Meanwhile, relief items and funds provided by the governments of Sindh and Balochistan, as well as international donors, were allegedly diverted to supporters of the Pakistan Peoples Party rather than genuine disaster victims in flood-hit districts, including Swat, Buner, Dir Lower, and Mansehra.
Former Red Crescent officials provided testimonies supporting these claims, the petition states.
The counsel also cited a Rs7.7 million contract for food packages that was awarded without advertisement or competitive bidding to what he described as a “politically favoured supplier,” in violation of Red Crescent procurement policy.
The PRCS is also accused of using assets and resources to support PPP activities, with Rs3 million reportedly spent on an Iftar party at the Governor’s House, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Were they distributing sweets to all of Pakistan?” Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked.
Also read: Rescuers race against time as K-P flood death toll tops 340
The petition, filed by the president of the Pakistan International Human Rights Organisation, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, requests the court to suspend the new appointments, restrain the chairman and board from functioning, and direct the establishment of an interim leadership.
The court issued notices to all parties and sought responses in the matter.
