ACE hiring legal consultant to address backlog

Move aimed at expediting high-profile cases

LAHORE:

The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), burdened with cases involving opposition leaders, has decided to engage a legal consultant for three months to help expedite at least 144 high-profile inquiries and 15 cases.

A three-member committee was constituted to finalise the acquisition of services of the legal consultant.

An official shared with The Express Tribune that the Punjab ACE Directorate General had been shorthanded when it came to dealing with legal matters.

The burden had increased in recent months as the organisation’s court appearances had increased due to the opening of multiple cases, especially related to leaders like former chief ministers Usman Buzdar and Pervaiz Elahi.

“At present, 144 high profile inquiries and 15 cases are under process at the directorate general,” he added. The official said that the high profile figures engaged top lawyers as counsel. The department has to be very cautious with regard to the legal aspects of the inquiries and cases.

“The existing human resources in the legal wing remain busy to deal with the cases. Therefore, a legal consultant is required to provide his input regarding high profile inquiries and cases,” he shared.

The consultant will provide guidance for the initiation of inquiries, registration of cases under Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment Rules, 2014 and preparation of requests for physical remand, the official added.

He will also be involved in recording statements, preparation of memos of recovery and site plans, final and revised reports after inquiries and investigations and their submission before the trial courts through the prosecutors.

The consultant will provide necessary support for matters pending in the courts and update the authorities, he shared.

The official added that the legal consultant would be engaged as per the ACE Rules of 1985 and Service Rules of 2007 that allowed the engagement of an expert “for quick and quality inquiries, investigation and prosecution”.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2023.