'Over 36mn rupees corruption' reported in Haj arrangements in Pak: Malik

Islamabad, Dec 21 (ANI): An embezzlement of over 36 million rupees reportedly took place in Haj arrangements this year, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.

Malik told the National Assembly that several accused- including former Haj director-general Rao Shakeel- had been arrested, and that investigations were going on, the details of which would be provided soon to the parliament, the Dawn reported.

He stressed the need for improving the Haj policy, for which the Interior Ministry would point out grey areas, and added that there was a need to keep a check on agents as well.

Malik further said that his ministry had launched an anti-corruption campaign and sacked several officers for their alleged involvement in wrongdoings, adding that it would keep on informing the parliament about its progress in this regard.

He also termed the Transparency International's survey 'substandard', adding that its recent report that had ranked Pakistan 34th on the corruption index was not based on facts.

Malik claimed that 34.5 per cent of information was taken from a single channel, out of which 98 per cent was based on lies.

The Interior Minister said that reports should not be made on gossip, adding that "investors have run away as they consider us corrupt". (ANI)