ACE admits 'black sheep' in its ranks

Action to be taken against officials who failed to properly investigate corruption cases, says chairperson

KARACHI: Sindh's Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) accepted that there were 'black sheep' in their ranks who had not been properly investigating cases against corrupt people.
"It is high time action is taken against our own people who failed to investigate corruption cases properly," said ACE Chairperson Alamuddin Bullo, while chairing a meeting on Tuesday. He added that a clean chit is given to those who have bungled public assets. He directed officials to pursue those cases with fresh evidence to get cancelled the bails of accused persons.



"Most suspects have been acquitted or bailed which gives a bad impression about us," said Bullo. He added the establishment will take an action against their own people who are least interested in dealing with corruption cases.
ACE director was asked to submit a report listing negligent officers of his own department so action could be initiated against them.
He also shared news regarding capacity building and training courses for the officers. "We have decided to arrange short courses and trainings for our officers so we can affectively work against corruption in the province," he remarked.
He asked Legal Director Abdul Hanan Shaikh to write a letter to Sindh High Court (SHC) registrar to establish an anti-corruption court in Mirpurkhas.



While sharing details regarding corruption cases, the officials said that there are 189 cases pending before SHC in Karachi and 149 cases in Hyderabad. "Around 99 cases are pending in Larkana and 70 cases in Sukkur," ACE Director Usman Ghani said.
The meeting was informed about shortage of staff in various districts where the positions of legal assistant director are lying vacant. Bullo asked the officials to fill these positions by promoting inspectors.
The meeting also decided to arrange an awareness walk against corruption on December 8 and invite people from every walk of life to participate in it. "The walk will start from the Sindh Assembly and end at the Karachi Press Club," ACE spokesperson said.