LANDIKOTAL: Members of the Khyber Ittehad Committee on Wednesday alleged illegal deductions from stipends being distributed to women under the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and accused officials and device operators of involvement in the practice.
Addressing a press conference at the Landikotal Press Club, committee members Khadim Shah, Gumbat, Rahmanullah, Jan Muhammad, Umar and Saleh Shah claimed that women beneficiaries were being forced to pay between Rs500 and Rs1,000 while receiving their financial assistance.
Khyber Ittehad Committee member Khadim Shah alleged that biometric device operators, along with some BISP officials and members of the district administration, were involved in the practice. He said the committee had repeatedly informed the district administration about the issue, but no action had been taken so far.
Khadim Shah alleged that the continued inaction suggested the possible involvement of senior officials in the matter.He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, had earlier assured them that future payments would be transferred directly to beneficiaries through SIM wallets to ensure transparency.
However, he said the system had not yet been implemented and payments were still being disbursed through biometric devices, which, according to him, allowed opportunities for illegal deductions.
