FIA arrests three alleged BISP agents for defrauding beneficiaries in Hyderabad 

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested three alleged Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) agents in Hyderabad on suspicion of defrauding beneficiaries.

An FIA official said Rashid Ali, Fruqan and Ahmed Khan were detained during a raid at M/S JJ Communications. Two of the suspects are government employees, while all three have been booked in a First Information Report.

The arrests follow renewed scrutiny of irregularities in BISP payments. On July 22, a subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) examined alleged irregularities involving more than Rs19 billion in payments made between financial years 2010-11 and 2022-23.

The meeting, chaired by Moin Amir Pirzada, reviewed audit findings indicating that funds had been withdrawn outside beneficiaries’ registered districts and provinces in violation of BISP rules.

Auditors told the committee that payments linked to beneficiaries from 39 districts had been processed through a single mobile shop franchise in Multan. More than half of 92 sampled beneficiaries could not be traced, while payments had also been made to 21 deceased individuals.

FIA officials sought two weeks to coordinate with BISP and complete the inquiry. The committee chair questioned the lack of progress over the previous eight months.

The committee also reviewed cases involving government employees, pensioners and their spouses who allegedly received BISP payments.

Pirzada questioned what action had been taken against senior officials, noting that the Rs4,000 monthly stipend was intended for the poorest citizens.

The BISP additional secretary said most employees linked to the cases were in lower grades and that inquiries had been conducted, although no employee had been dismissed.

PPP Senator Saleem Mandviwalla criticised BISP’s reliance on deputation staff, saying it had weakened institutional oversight. The subcommittee deferred the matter until its next meeting.