Islamabad : In a major crackdown on institutional corruption, five officials have been sentenced to 17 years of rigorous imprisonment each for their involvement in a high-profile bribery scheme aimed at manipulating an external audit report of the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco). The convictions represent a significant breakthrough for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), which spearheaded the investigation and subsequent prosecution.
The case originated from a targeted operation conducted by the FIA Islamabad Zone’s Anti-Corruption Circle, during which investigators arrested three Iesco Divisional Accounts Officers and two audit officers. Authorities recovered Rs104.75 million in cash during the raid, an amount intended as a bribe to secure a favorable external audit report covering Iesco’s financial affairs between 2019 and 2024.
Following the operation, formal charges were registered under multiple sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, identifying the accused as Zeeshan Ali Akbar, Nazar Hussain, Ishtiaq Ahmed, Jahangir Ahmed, and Saqib Zaheer.
The legal process concluded with the formal conviction of all five individuals, who will now serve concurrent 17-year prison terms. Furthermore, the authorities ordered the complete confiscation of the seized Rs104.75 million, directing the funds to be deposited directly into the federal treasury of the Government of Pakistan.
The FIA has hailed the outcome as a monumental success for its Anti-Corruption Circle, highly commending the collaborative efforts of the investigation and legal teams. Special recognition was given to Investigation Officer Assistant Director Zohaib Niazi and Law Officer Assistant Director Salahuddin for their roles in successfully building and pursuing the case.
