Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Communication and Works Minister Shakeel Khan has made startling revelations, alleging that the secretary of his ministry released funds worth Rs6.87 billion to contractors without his knowledge or consent.
The disclosure came in a written statement submitted by the former minister to the Good Governance Committee.
According to Shakeel Khan, between May and June of this year, the secretary released Rs6.87 billion for construction projects. When questioned about the massive fund disbursement and allegations of receiving a 10-20% commission, the secretary reportedly stated that the development took place under the supervision of the chief minister.
Shakeel said in the statement that when the senior and parliamentary leadership of the party was informed about corruption, ongoing fraud in the department, mismanagement and non-cooperation, they suggested that all the black sheep be exposed by penetrating the system.
Therefore, the former minister said, in order to get to the bottom of the corruption and expose the characters involved in it, he started developing relations with the secretary.
Shakeel Khan further alleged that the secretary offered him a bribe of Rs30 million, which was later increased to Rs50 million, along with the promise of a new car in exchange for his silence. Shakeel Khan claims to have refused the bribe and decided to expose the corruption.
The secretary told him, he claimed, that Rs200 million were given to the chief minister, while Rs100 million were given to the powerful circles on the orders of the chief minister.
Moreover, in terms of commission, Rs35 million had been given to the additional chief secretary, Rs25 million to the secretary of the finance department. Shakeel Khan added that the C&W secretary then offered to hand over Rs50 million to him, but he refused to keep it.
He further disclosed that in a meeting with PTI Founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on July 31, he shared all the details of the corruption, prompting the former prime minister to direct him to hold a press conference to send a message to all provincial ministers, administrative secretaries and officers.
Shakeel Khan also disclosed in his response that a firm belonging to federal minister Amir Muqam was given tenders worth millions in Swat through collusion.
On the other hand, KP Law Minister Aftab Alam addressed the issue of Shakeel Khan's dismissal on corruption charges, stating that there were no internal differences within the party. He praised Shakeel Khan as an "asset to the party" and expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved soon.
Aftab Alam affirmed that there is unity and consensus among party members and that the issue is being treated as a private matter within the party.
