The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) returned Rs6 billion to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government after uncovering large-scale embezzlement of public funds in Upper Kohistan.
An inquiry launched in April 2024 revealed misappropriation exceeding Rs37 billion through manipulation of treasury instruments and misuse of official financial procedures over nearly a decade.
The recovery followed investigations led by NAB KP’s director general and a Combined Investigation Team, which traced assets including cash, precious metals, properties, and luxury vehicles.
At a ceremony, NAB Chairman Lt-Gen (retd) Nazir Ahmad handed over the recovered funds to the KP chief secretary, marking the first phase of recoveries.
NAB confirmed assets worth Rs27 billion were frozen, while Rs10 billion were recovered through plea bargains. The total traced amount exceeded Rs37 billion.
Investigators scrutinised over 1,500 bank accounts, traced complex money trails, and identified assets allegedly acquired illegally through advanced financial tracing and forensic analysis.
A breakthrough came when investigators uncovered a contractor’s account allegedly used to channel illicit funds, with transactions amounting to Rs17 billion processed within months.
In March 2026, an accountability court approved a plea bargain of Rs49.125 million for construction firm owner Jibran Malik, ordering his release if not required elsewhere.
