–Probes against former finance minister Ishaq Dar, Khokhar brothers among others to be completed at earliest
–ACE Lahore director says all decisions will be made on merit, no one will be discriminated against
LAHORE: The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has geared up to finalise pending cases, investigations and inquiries against government servants while also taking up cases against political leaders and other influential persons without succumbing to any pressure, Pakistan Today has learnt.
According to sources, ACE has decided to finalise pending inquiries against political players without any discrimination and in the first phase, former finance minister Ishaq Dar, MNA Rana Mubashir, PML-N’s Khokhar brothers and other important persons will be taken to task.
“The proceedings against them will be promptly initiated while the cases and inquiries of prominent bureaucrats involved in different cases pertaining to corruption or misuse of power will also be decided soon,” they said and added that directions to this extent were given by ACE Punjab Director General (DG) Hussain Asghar.
“He has ordered the officers concerned to proceed with inquires without any discrimination and on an urgent basis.”
According to sources, lying pending with ACE Lahore were several inquiries against federal and provincial officers other than some influential persons.
These, they said, include names of former Environment Protection Agency (EPA) DG Dr Javed Iqbal, Agriculture Department Director Dr Muhammad Bashir, BS-19 officer of Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) Adnan Zafar, Health Additional Secretary Muhammad Sohail, Lahore Development Authority (LDA) Housing Society General Secretary Ali Usman, Finance Secretary Munir Ahmed, Shalimar Assistant Commissioner Haider Abbas and Shahid Yaqoob.
“Case number 11/80 against Ishaq Dar for selling government land in Harbanspura is being re-examined while the proceedings against Rana Mubashir for corruption in the Bagh Irum Cooperative Society is in its final stages,” sources said while sharing the details of some of the cases.
They added that cases against MNA Afzal Khokhar and his brother MPA Saiful Maluk Khokhar for illegal construction on government land in Thokar Niaz Baig and other places in the province were also being finalised. “Former chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar had taken a suo motu action on the same,” sources said.
MNA Rana Ishaq and District Vice Chairman Aziz Shah were also being investigated, they said further and added that an inquiry into the alleged unlawful transfer of property by Nishtar Town Town Nazim Sardar Shafqat Mahmud was also underway.
ACE Lahore Director Asghar Joiya while talking to Pakistan Today said the establishment was working to solve all cases. “The decisions will be made on merit and we are trying our best to work on a fast pace. Everyone is equal before ACE and no one would be discriminated against,” he added.
