**FIA Arrests Three Government Engineers for Corruption in Federal Housing Projects**
In a significant move against financial misconduct, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three government engineers for their alleged involvement in large-scale corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and collusion with land mafias within federal housing projects. The high-profile operation was carried out by the FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad, marking a decisive effort to address malpractices in public sector housing schemes.
The individuals apprehended during the crackdown include Meraj Afridi and Mehmood Irfan Qureshi, both serving as Assistant Executive Engineers at the Public Works Department (PWD), along with Naeem Akhtar, a Sub-Engineer at the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA). Preliminary findings suggest that these officials abused their official positions, resulting in a loss of millions of rupees to the national treasury.
The investigation is focused on fraudulent dealings concerning the Supplementary Award of Built-Up Properties (BUPs) in subsectors of Mouza Thalla Syedan, G-14. According to FIA investigators, the suspects manipulated official property ownership records to unlawfully register private individuals as co-owners of at least five BUPs. These individuals subsequently secured plots and received payments using falsified documents, thereby exploiting public housing resources for personal gain.
Further inquiry revealed that the accused bypassed essential legal procedures and collaborated with organized encroachment groups to execute the scam. This deliberate subversion of official protocols not only facilitated financial misappropriation but also resulted in legitimate landowners being deprived of their rightful entitlements, thereby undermining public confidence in federal housing projects.
Following the arrests, the FIA has formally launched a criminal investigation. The agency confirmed that all three suspects are now in custody and are being interrogated to uncover the full scope of the operation and identify any additional accomplices. Officials have reiterated their commitment to holding public servants accountable for acts of corruption, stressing that strict legal action will be taken to protect public assets and uphold the integrity of government institutions.
