PESHAWAR: An alleged fraud and financial irregularity amounting to over Rs18.215 million has been exposed at Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan.
Initial investigations suggest that university employees are accused of embezzlement involving fees and public funds received from 12 affiliated private colleges over the past two to three years. University administration claims that the amount involved may be significantly higher, as investigations are still going on. Action has been initiated including registration of FIRs, suspensions, and further inquiries.
According to available documents, the irregularities were first identified during scrutiny of records of 12 affiliated private colleges. The report states that Rs14.415 million was allegedly embezzled through fake bank deposit slips. Documents indicate that the money was not deposited in the banks, while representatives of private colleges were issued deposit slips by the university, which were not found in bank records. When questioned, college owners stated that university staff used to collect cash and later send them bank deposit slips.
Records further show that instead of being deposited in official university accounts, public funds were transferred to personal bank accounts, resulting in a loss of Rs3.8 million. According to official documents, Rs6,760,500 was also withdrawn through cheques issued in the names of fake or unrelated accounts. In total, the initial report confirms a loss of Rs18,215,500 to public funds, although it is feared the amount may increase after completion of audits of remaining affiliated colleges.
The inquiry report also reveals that the dispatch register and peon books of the affiliation section for the year 2024 are completely missing, while several pages from May and June 2025 are also untraceable, including records of correspondence with the finance directorate regarding cheque transactions. The report states that the selective disappearance of records indicates possible attempts to conceal evidence and obstruct the investigation.
According to documents, the university syndicate meeting expressed serious concern over the financial irregularities and authorised the Vice Chancellor as the competent authority to take further legal and administrative action.
The syndicate also decided to immediately suspend the then Director Affiliation and Director IT and place them on 90-day forced leave. The already formed inquiry committee has been directed to continue proceedings against both officers.
It was also decided that FIRs will be registered against the former Director Affiliation, former Director Finance, a naib qasid, and all other officials concerned, facilitators, and beneficiaries involved in the alleged fraud, misuse of authority, and destruction of official records.
The meeting further directed that a forensic and financial audit of the remaining records of the affiliation and examination branches be completed to determine the exact extent of the embezzlement. The matter will then be referred to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Anti-Corruption Establishment or other relevant law enforcement agencies for further investigation and recovery.
It was also decided that a forensic audit firm may be hired if necessary, and the case may be sent to the Auditor General of Pakistan, the Higher Education Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Higher Education Commission Islamabad.
