The powerful bureaucracy of Punjab has stalled the provincial Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) director general’s bid to initiate an inquiry against three senior bureaucrats for their alleged financial embezzlements in the Sasti Roti Programme. The Punjab Services Department has advised the Punjab chief secretary to first obtain comments and views from the three senior bureaucrats before submitting the case to the chief minister.
In what appears to be a blow to the much publicised Sasti Roti Programme, the issue of initiating official inquiry against the three bureaucrats by the ACE originates from a complaint lodged by PML-N MNA Hanif Abbasi, who pointed out certain financial irregularities allegedly committed in the scheme by Home Secretary Shahid Khan, Industries Secretary Ejaz Munir and one of the additional secretaries (home department).
Soon after receiving the complaint from Abbasi, the provincial anti-corruption machinery geared up its efforts and moved a summary to the chief minister to initiate preliminary inquiries to ascertain the facts. Since the allegations have been levelled against the home secretary, industries secretary and additional home secretary, the ACE Punjab director general moved a summary to the CM seeking permission under Rule 7 of the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Rules, 1985.
The ACE rules provide that inquiries against secretaries to the provincial government would be initiated by the director with the CM’s permission. Ever since the ACE became active, the Services Wing of the Punjab government also geared up efforts, saying comments must first be sought from the officers concerned. Services Secretary Sikandar Sultan Raja said in a note to the chief secretary that “senior officers holding sensitive assignments are being involved without having their point of view, so their views be taken before moving the summary to the CM.”
In his complaint, Hanif Abbasi pointed out financial irregularities in purchases of laptop computers, air conditioners, repair of official vehicles and the unauthorised use of the official vehicles of the Sasti Roti Authority (SRA) by the three secretaries.