Anti-Corruption Crackdown in Balochistan: Four Municipal Committee Officers Arrested After Bail Cancellation

Quetta: Balochistan Anti-Corruption Establishment launched a major crackdown on alleged financial corruption, arresting four serving and former chief officers of municipal committees after their bail was cancelled by the court.

According to anti-corruption sources, cases had earlier been registered against nine officials following detailed investigations into alleged embezzlement of millions of rupees in development funds in municipal committees of Musa Khel, Mach, and Usta Muhammad.

The operation was carried out under the direction of Director General Naseebullah Kakar, with a team led by the Deputy Director Investigation. During the probe, investigators found that some former chief officers had allegedly diverted millions of rupees from development funds to non-development expenditures, which constituted a serious violation of financial rules and regulations.

Officials said the misuse of government funds negatively affected public development projects and caused significant losses to the national treasury. The investigation concluded that the accused officers were involved in criminal misconduct, misuse of authority, and unlawful spending of public resources.

Following the cancellation of bail by the court, four current chief officers — Abdul Majeed, Bashir Ahmed Palal, Bashir Ahmed Sidayo, and Muhammad Yaqoob — along with former chief officer Manzoor Ahmed were arrested from the court premises. Earlier, former chief officers Wali Muhammad and Muhammad Rafiq had also been taken into custody during an operation on February 2.

Authorities said raids are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspects involved in the case. The anti-corruption establishment reiterated its **zero-tolerance policy against corruption**, vowing to bring all those involved in misuse of public resources to justice in accordance with the law.