Latest news with #Anti-CorruptionEstablishment
Express Tribune
26-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Land record official held for 'bribery'
The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) regional team conducted an operation in Chiniot and arrested a frontman of the Land Record Center's Sub-Registrar (SCO) for demanding a bribe. The action was initiated based on a complaint filed by applicant Abdul Qayyum, who alleged that Amjad Ali, the frontman of Land Record SCO, had demanded a bribe of Rs70,000 to clear mosque-related documents. Circle Officer Sanaullah and his team took action on the citizen's complaint. The accused was caught red-handed while accepting the marked bribe money and was arrested on the spot. Meanwhile, Additional Sessions Judge Dildar Shah pronounced a verdict in a case registered at Factory Area police station. After his guilt was proven, the drug peddler was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment and fined Rs800,000. The convict, Bilal Ahmed, has been sent to jail. According to the prosecution, Sub-Inspector Arshad Qadeer, while posted in the CIA (Crime Investigation Agency), had arrested Bilal Ahmed, a resident of Shalimar Park 2, Shadi Pura Mohalla, with 14 kg of hashish near Bohar Chowk, Factory Area, and registered the case against him. After a thorough investigation and timely testimonies, the court punished the convict. Separately, two individuals, including a middle-aged woman, lost their lives in road accidents, while two others were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Express Tribune
22-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Ex-education authority chief held for 'corruption'
Officials from the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) formally arrested the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rawalpindi District Education Authority, Amanullah Cheema, 19 hours after being taken into custody in connection with an embezzlement case. The department's cashier, Arshad, was also arrested as a co-accused in the case. Despite being a Grade-19 senior officer, Cheema was reportedly arrested in a humiliating and unprofessional manner, dragged from a basic office without a registered FIR. Initially, he was detained based only on a plain-paper inquiry request. An FIR was registered 18 hours later, allegedly after internal manoeuvring. Due to the delay in filing the FIR, no physical remand could be sought on Sunday, and the authorities had to cancel their decision to present him before the duty judge. Now, both accused are set to appear before the special Anti-Corruption Court (ATC) today (Monday) to request physical remand. The absence of an FIR and the manner of arrest have caused resentment and unrest among education officers, principals, and headmasters. No one was allowed to meet the arrested officials until Sunday. Even when District and Tehsil Education Officers visited the Anti-Corruption office to inquire about the matter, the investigating officer prevented their meeting and began questioning them about corruption-related issues as well. The entire Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Department team remained active through Saturday night and all day Sunday, searching the offices of the Education Department, including the CEO's office. They turned over drawers, shelves, and files but reportedly found no concrete evidence. Still, they confiscated all files and records from the CEO's office and took them away for further scrutiny. Cheema faces allegations of embezzling Rs8 million, primarily for purchasing furniture and stationery without following tender procedures, allegedly causing a loss to the public exchequer. In response, a legal team of senior lawyers has been assembled to defend the former officer. During the inquiry that continued from Saturday night through Sunday (10am to 2pm), the arrested education officer categorically denied all charges. Meanwhile, a new CEO has arrived from Sheikhupura to take over responsibilities in Rawalpindi. He formally assumed official charge on Sunday and is expected to take administrative charge at the office today (Monday). This arrest is expected to lead to major political, administrative, and financial revelations in the coming days.
Express Tribune
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
12 exonerated in M6 case
The Accountability Court No1 Hyderabad, presided over by Judge Naseem Akhtar Soomro, has acquitted 12 accused from district Naushahro Feroze in the mega corruption reference related to the purchase of land for the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway (M-6). The reference involved over Rs5 billion in alleged corruptions. However, cases are still in progress against 30 suspects, including the axed deputy commissioners of Matiari and Naushehro Feroze districts, who are on the run after pocketing billions of rupees meant for buying land for the motorway. The court accepted the acquittal pleas filed by the accused and released them with honour after concluding that no evidence had been found against them during investigations conducted by NAB and the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE). The acquitted individuals include two former Mukhtiarkars, three clerks, three tapedars, and the former personal assistant (PA) of the ex-deputy commissioner of Naushehro Feroze. The decision was reserved after final arguments by the counsels and was issued yesterday in a two-page written judgment. The judgment stated that no incriminating material was found against the applicants during the investigations, and NAB's special prosecutor had also confirmed the absence of any evidence on record. The Anti-Corruption Establishment had initially investigated the alleged corruption in the land acquisition process and later transferred the case to NAB. The accused were acquitted under Section 265 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPrC). Those acquitted include, Shafiq Ahmed Soomro (former Mukhtiarkar Mehrabpur), Niaz Ali Ajan, (former Mukhtiarkar Bhirya City), Abdul Aziz Ansari (former PA to DC Naushehro Feroze), Abdul Ghaffar Depar (former senior clerk), Ghulam Haqqani Sehto and Tanveer Ali Mallah (former tapedars), Rustam Khoso (former accounts clerk), Khalid Masood Channa (private contractor), Sajjad Ahmed Memon (former social welfare officer), Aftab Ahmed Soomro and Siraj Ahmed Memon (stamp vendors) and Abdul Ghaffar Marri (Notary Public). It is pertinent to mention that NAB had filed this reference in the accountability court in 2023, alleging Rs5.8 billion embezzlement in funds allocated for land acquisition for the M-6 Motorway in districts Matiari and Naushehro Feroze. The case included several government officials, private contractors, and individuals, with a total of 42 persons named as accused. While 12 have now been acquitted, the reference against the remaining 30 accused, including suspended DC Matiari Adnan Rasheed and absconding/suspended DC Naushehro Feroze Tashfeen Alam, is still under trial in Accountability Court No. 1.
Express Tribune
04-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Top RDA officials summoned in massive scandal
The Punjab chief secretary has taken notice of the alleged major financial scandal amounting to Rs1.94 billion in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) and summoned RDA Director General (DG) Kinza Murtaza to appear before a special inquiry committee in Lahore. There are strong indications that she may be removed from her post and made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD). Investigations into the scandal are already underway by both the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Anti-Corruption Establishment. According to sources, between 2016 and 2017, payments totalling Rs1.94 billion were made to various companies and individuals from the RDA's account through Call Deposit Receipts (CDRs). These bank transactions were never scrutinised by the then DGs or directors of admin and finance, who held signing authority during the period in question. This complete lack of oversight paralysed the financial discipline and transparency mechanisms within the RDA, sources said. The malpractice remained unchecked until the first week of May 2025, when newly appointed Director Admin and Finance, Qazi Sohaib, initiated a probe and uncovered the irregularities. In a related development, former Deputy Director Finance Junaid Taj Bhattiwho was then serving as DG Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) in Sialkotdied under mysterious circumstances on May 13 in his Sialkot office. Following the discovery, the RDA DG first wrote to the Punjab secretary for housing seeking permission to formally begin an internal inquiry. However, before receiving a response, she proceeded to send letters to the DG of Punjab Anti-Corruption Department and NAB chairman, and DG FIA, requesting their involvement in the investigation. This move reportedly angered the relevant provincial secretary, who expressed strong displeasure in a video link meeting over the matter being forwarded to external agencies prematurely, sources said. Meanwhile, NAB has acquired the relevant records and launched a formal investigation. On June 3, the Anti-Corruption Establishment's regional director in Rawalpindi summoned and recorded statements from 13 current and retired RDA officers and employees. Sources indicate that the DG may be removed from her position and reassigned as OSD after her appearance before the committee.
Express Tribune
30-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Millers refuse to buy 'contaminated' wheat
The flour mills in the Rawalpindi district have submitted a formal complaint to the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), protesting against the persistent pressure exerted by the Rawalpindi Food Department to forcibly purchase 32,000 allegedly foul-smelling sacks of wheat. The mills have firmly refused to buy the wheat under any circumstances and have demanded that the wheat be inspected and laboratory tested at the Wheat Storage Centre in Rawalpindi. Details suggest that last year, severe complaints were received from flour mills regarding the contamination of wheat stored in government warehouses in Rawalpindi, with reports of soil and water mixing with the wheat. In response, the Pakistan Flour Mills Association (PFMA) Punjab chapter formally lodged a written complaint with the Secretary of the Punjab Food Department. Consequently, the Director of Food Punjab constituted an inquiry team, which confirmed the allegations upon visiting Rawalpindi. However, despite a year having passed, no responsible individuals have been identified or held accountable for the corruption involved. Despite the Rawalpindi flour mills depositing over Rs35 million into the government treasury, officials posted at PR Centre 3 have refused to supply wheat to the mills. The mills have been told to either accept the wheat mixed with dirt, rotting, and foul-smelling, or wait for two months. The mill owners argue that they haven't conducted business with any private company or individual but have followed the law by depositing the required amount in the government treasury. They assert that the wheat should have been delivered the same day the payment was made, in accordance with the law. If government departments continue to mistreat businesspeople, the question arises: who will do business in this country? The staff posted at the PR Centre 3 in the federal capital was previously implicated and proven guilty of similar charges three years ago, resulting in some punishments. However, those officers were reinstated and reassigned to the same centre. The ACE in Rawalpindi confirmed receiving the complaint from the flour mills and stated that action will be taken after the Eidul Fitr holidays. Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Food, Ghulam Abbas, claims the wheat isn't spoiled or rotting, but only contains soil, which they are willing to sift and provide.
