Islamabad, Aug 13, 2025: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC), led by Junaid Akbar Khan, met on Tuesday to review serious financial irregularities in the Ministry of Religious Affairs for fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24.
The main focus was a major embezzlement case involving former Assistant Accounts Officer Muhammad Kaleem, accused of misappropriating Rs. 44.7 million.
According to the audit, Kaleem, who was stationed in Jeddah, transferred large sums from official accounts into his personal bank account. This included Rs. 12 million meant for the Directorate General Hajj in 2021. Despite the fraud, he is currently residing in Canada. The ministry has applied for a red warrant and is pursuing recovery through his assets.
The PAC expressed concern over the slow follow-up on the case and directed the Ministry to submit a detailed list of Kaleem’s assets within one month. Junaid Akbar Khan remarked that such a large-scale scam was unlikely to be carried out by one person alone and called for a wider investigation.
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The committee also reviewed irregularities in the Hajj operation, noting unverified payments for tents in Mina and Arafat worth Rs. 49.8 million, with no receipts or proper records. Members further sought details on the role of judges, politicians, and bureaucrats during the Hajj season. The Ministry confirmed that 1,700 staff were deployed, including 130 from the armed forces.
Secretary Religious Affairs, Dr. Atta-ur-Rehman, informed the PAC about reforms introduced in the Haj process and assured that stricter monitoring systems are now in place to prevent similar issues. The committee will keep track of the ongoing investigation and recovery process.
