Ex-CM, ministers face corruption allegations
PHOTO: FILE
Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has summoned former federal minister Zartaj Gul, former chief minister Usman Buzdar and former finance minister Hashim Jawan Bakht for investigations into corruption cases.
Zartaj Gul has been summoned for investigation regarding allegations of taking kickbacks for the development works of her constituency. Gul and her husband Humayun Akhund are blamed for taking a 10% commission on providing funds for development schemes.
The ACE has also sought records of Community Development Programme schemes.
The ACE has issued a summons notice to Zartaj Gul, Humayun Akhund, and Public Health Engineering officers on April 10.
Anti-corruption has summoned former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on April 10 to investigate acts of corruption in the construction of a 50-km long road from Bharathi to Khar Buzdar in Taunsa at a cost of Rs700 million.
The former chief minister committed acts of corruption with the alleged connivance of highway department officers and contractors. Due to the use of poor materials in construction, the road fell into disrepair.
Former Punjab chief minister Usman Ahmed Buzdar had approved schemes worth crores of tough tiles for Bharathi. Poor quality materials were used in the tough tiles.
A multi-purpose hall was also constructed at the personal residence of Usman Buzdar with government funds at the cost of millions of rupees, while the former chief minister also received kickbacks in the contract of Rs60 million for the construction of the four walls of the cemetery.
Usman Buzdar benefited his frontman and close relative Dr Ijaz Leghari to the tune of millions of rupees in support of contracts.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2023.