Mines dept official held for ‘corruption’

Complainant alleged that official was demanding another sum of money for returning security money

SARGODHA:

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) arrested a Sub-Engineer of the Mines Department for alleged corruption.

According to a press release issued by ACE Regional Officer Azizur Rehman on Wednesday, a resident of Mianwali submitted an application regarding the incident to Regional Director ACE Sargodha Mudassar Hanif Bhatti. He complainant stated that his brother was a contractor and had taken a contract to repair and build the boundary wall of the Mines and Minerals Department building in Khushab for Rs6.5 million.

However, Deputy Director SDO and Sub Engineer of Mines Department Muhammad Shahzad allegedly took a bribe of Rs975,000 from his brother in the form of commission.

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The complainant further alleged that Sub-Engineer Shahzad was demanding another Rs50,000 for returning the security money.

Taking action on the application, ACE Sargodha Regional Director ordered Circle Officer ACE Khushab Muhammad Owais to conduct a raid to arrest the offending officer. The circle officer conducted the raid under the supervision of Civil Judge Nazar Abbas Baloch and seized Rs50,000 in marked notes from the possession of Muhammad Shahzad and arrested him.

The ACE team registered a case against the arrested accused and others and started an investigation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2023.