LAHORE: On the orders of Punjab Ombudsman Abdur Rashid Khan, the Lahore District Zakat Officer has released Rs 18,000 as zakat scholarship for two students.

Muhammad Irfan Haider and Muhammad Yaseen, MSc students of the University of Education, Lahore, submitted before the ombudsman that on approval of the zakat scholarship, the district zakat officer forwarded a cheque of Rs 18,000 on May 24, 2007, to the University of Education for payment to them.

The aforesaid cheque, however, could not be cleared from the Lahore treasury office by June 30, 2007, and the funds lapsed, as a resultant, the scholarship amount was not paid to them, they added. They requested the ombudsman that a new cheque should be issued so that they could continue their studies. The ombudsman observed that the zakat officer delivered the check after a delay of 21 days of its issuance and it could not be cashed due to failure on the part of the university in getting it verified in time by the treasury office.

However, the ombudsman directed the zakat officer to arrange the requisite funds and pay the complainants. In his compliance report, the zakat officer has now informed the ombudsman that he has issued another cheque of Rs 18,000 and the amount has been distributed between the two students. staff report

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