MUZAFFARABAD: Serious allegations of corruption and bribery have surfaced in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Inland Revenue Department, with claims that millions of rupees are being collected monthly from cigarette factories in exchange for operational favors and official protection.
According to a report, large-scale financial irregularities allegedly intensified after the Inland Revenue portfolio was taken over by AJK government minister Chaudhry Qasim Majeed. It is claimed that through the office of the Member Inland Revenue, monthly extortion deals worth nearly Rs5 crore were made with five cigarette factories located in Bhimber.
The report further alleges that in December last year, cigarette factory owners paid Rs3 crore instead of the agreed Rs5 crore and demanded permission to reopen factories that had previously been shut down during the former administration.
Following these developments, at least 12 cigarette factories were reportedly allowed to resume or increase production from January 2026. The report claims that since then, nearly Rs8 crore per month has allegedly been flowing into the pockets of influential figures in the form of illegal payments.
The allegations also include claims of bribery in government appointments and promotions within the department, where officials were allegedly required to pay large sums for recruitment and career advancement.
Some individuals involved in the matter have reportedly obtained stay orders from the High Court regarding the ongoing investigations and administrative actions.
No official response has yet been issued by the AJK government or the individuals named in the report regarding these allegations.
