Debate sought on corruption revealed in police department

Legislator says top brass has not taken measures to curb corruption

LAHORE: A woman legislator from the opposition benches sought debate in Punjab Assembly over a recent corruption scams of billions revealed by a report of the Accountant General Punjab (AGP) in Punjab Police while the provincial police chief has so far kept mum over the issue despite he was informed twice through letters.

The debate was sought by PTI legislator Sadia Sohail Rana through an adjournment motion she submitted in Punjab Assembly.

Citing a news published in a section of the press that an acting accountant general of the federal government expressed his apprehensions over billion of rupees’ embezzlement in Punjab Police accounts by pointing out eight mega scandals, the legislator underscored that financial system of the police department has been ruined while the top officials of the police were silent over the issue.



She said the top officials of the department have not taken any concrete measures to curb corruption in the department. She further said AGP Karamat Hussain Bukhari also wrote to the federal government for controlling the worst situation of the police department.

The AGP not only wrote to Federal Interior Secretary Arshad Mirza but also IG Punjab Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz about the situation. In his letters, Bukhari mentioned that bogus recruitments were made in the department as well as salaries and pensions were paid on fake documents. Fuel was purchased on fake receipts, contracts were awarded on exorbitant bids, most record was missing, the AGP maintained.

The AGP further said the evidences of Rs2.6 billion have been collected during the inquiries of eight fraud cases. “Astonishing enough, no stern action was taken against any responsible persons,” the AGP remarked in his communiqué.

The AGP in his letter to the federal interior secretary on October 11,2017 clearly mentioned that he had intimated the IG Punjab about the corruption and then he again reminded him through another letter on September 21 but he received no response.

The legislator sought debate in the Punjab Assembly over the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22^nd, 2017.