ACE gives clean chit to Sheikh Rashid

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has given a clean chit to Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid on the ground that an allegation being looked into had not been established to his extent.

Lahore High Court’s (LHC) Justice Amjad Rafique was hearing a petition by Rashid challenging ACE’s notice summoning him in an inquiry, which, according to the petitioner, had no legal effect.

The court disposed of the petition after the ACE submitted its report declaring that no allegation had been proven against Sheikh Rashid.

In earlier proceedings, the ACE had told the court in its reply that Sheikh Rashid had been given benefit in the Rawalpindi Ring Road project.

The ACE lawyer implored the court that the allegation had not been established to the extent of the former minister.

The petitioner’s counsel contended that the petition had become infructuous in light of the report submitted by the ACE.

The petitioner had contended that the conduct of the ACE was an act of harassment and without jurisdiction.

He contended that he had private holdings and land fully declared through tax returns and had entered into a sale agreement of land measuring 149 kanals in the Attock district in return for Rs670 million with a private housing society and received Rs100 million as advance payment.

According to the terms of the agreement, the petitioner was supposed to receive Rs570 million at the time of the land ownership transfer within a year from February 23, 2021.

He stated that the purchaser had issued a cheque in his name of the remaining amount, which had not so far been cashed despite the lapse of the agreed period.

The petitioner said it was shocking that the respondent has issued the summon to him to appear on July 15 regarding the land sale.

He prayed the court to declare illegal the notice issued by the ACE.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2022.