By Our Correspondent
LAHORE – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore Zone has launched a major crackdown against individuals allegedly involved in illegal deductions from funds distributed under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), arresting 13 suspects during raids in Lahore and Nankana Sahib.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the Anti-Corruption Circle Lahore conducted several operations in different areas of the two districts following complaints regarding unlawful deductions from financial assistance provided to deserving women under the government welfare programme.
The arrested suspects were allegedly deducting Rs1,500 to Rs2,500 from each beneficiary as an illegal commission while releasing BISP payments.
The FIA officials said the suspects were caught red-handed while receiving illegal commissions from beneficiaries at payment centres. A large number of deserving women were present at the locations to receive their financial assistance when the raids were carried out.
During the operations, FIA teams recovered multiple identity cards, registers, mobile phones, bank payment devices and other relevant material from the arrested individuals.
The agency said the recovered items would be examined as part of the ongoing investigation to determine the full extent of the alleged fraud and identify other individuals involved in the illegal practice.
Cases have been registered against the arrested suspects, while further investigations are underway.
The FIA Lahore Zone spokesperson reiterated that strict action would continue against elements involved in exploiting beneficiaries of government welfare schemes and depriving deserving citizens of their entitled financial support.
