Pakistani bureaucrat suspended for stealing Kuwaiti delegate's wallet

The Pakistani bureaucrat, who was caught on camera stealing the wallet of a member of a Kuwaiti delegation, was suspended on Monday, according to media reports. The dignitary was part of a high-level delegation which was in Pakistan to discuss bilateral trade.

Joint secretary of the ministry of industries and production and a BS-20 officer of the state bureaucracy’s elite Pakistan Administrative Service, Zarrar Haider Khan was caught on CCTV cameras while lifting the wallet and putting it in his pocket, according to a Dawn news report.

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The video which is six-seconds long shows Khan lifting the wallet which had a significant number of dinars and putting it into his at the hall of the Economic Affairs Division after their meeting.

Khan has been suspended from service on disciplinary grounds after he was caught stealing. But so far, no complaint has been registered with the police.

The incident came to light after the Kuwaiti delegation launched an official complain that one of member’s wallet went missing. The act was caught on CCTV camera at the Finance Ministry. It quickly went viral on Reddit and Twitter.

Initially, Khan denied his involvement. However, when the CCTV footage was shown to him, he produced the wallet, sources said.

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When the Kuwaiti officials were informed of the recovery of his wallet, the delegation asked the authorities to provide them with the identification of the culprit.

The Pakistani officials initially showed reluctance and assured the guests that legal action would be taken against the person. However, when the livid Kuwaiti delegates insisted that they be told the identity of the Pakistani official, they divulged the individual’s identity and shared the CCTV footage, according to sources. They also said that an internal inquiry was in progress against the bureaucrat and further action will be taken.