Major Judicial Success for FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad; Court Orders Confiscation of Rs. 104.75 Million to the National Exchequer

ISLAMABAD (Asif Malik): The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad has achieved a major judicial success in a bribery case involving the payment of bribes to have IESCO’s external audit report prepared in favor of the accused. Special Judge Central Rawalpindi Abdul Rehman Muhammad Arif announced the verdict in the case, sentencing all five accused—Zeeshan Ali Akbar, Nazar Hussain, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Jahangir Ahmed, and Saqib Zaheer—to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment each. The court also ordered the confiscation of the recovered amount of Rs. 104.75 million and its deposit into the national exchequer of the Government of Pakistan.

According to the FIA, the Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad conducted an operation on August 30, 2024, and arrested three IESCO Divisional Accounts Officers and two Audit Officers red-handed. An amount of Rs. 104.75 million was recovered from the possession of the accused. The money was allegedly being paid as a bribe in exchange for having the external audit report for the period from 2019 to 2024 prepared in their favor.

In connection with the incident, FIR No. 153/2024 was registered under Sections 161, 162, 163, and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

According to the FIA, Investigation Officer Assistant Director Zohaib Niazi and Law Officer Assistant Director Salahuddin played a key role in the successful investigation and prosecution of the case. The agency stated that the verdict reflects the FIA’s effective measures against corruption and bribery in public institutions and its commitment to accountability.