The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore Zone arrested 13 suspects during targeted raids in Lahore and Nankana Sahib on Friday for their alleged involvement in illegal deductions from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) funds.
Details of the Raids
According to an FIA spokesperson, the Anti-Corruption Circle conducted the operations following reports that the suspects were unlawfully deducting between Rs.1,500 and Rs.2,500 as an unauthorized commission from the financial assistance meant for deserving women under the welfare scheme. The spokesperson stated that the suspects were caught red-handed at the payment centers while receiving the illegal commission.
A large number of women beneficiaries present at the centers were reportedly being subjected to these unlawful deductions by the suspects.
Recovered Items
During the raids, the FIA teams recovered several Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs), transaction registers, mobile phones, bank connect devices and other relevant incriminating material from the possession of the arrested individuals.
Legal Proceedings
Separate cases had been registered against all the suspects at the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle, and further investigation was underway to trace other facilitators involved in exploiting the beneficiaries.
