Punjab's anti-graft axe falls on 54 officials
The Punjab government has dismissed or suspended 54 officials, while several others have been arrested and cases registered against them during a fresh phase of action against corruption.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had ordered the departments to take action against officials involved in corrupt practices.
According to an official statement, the food department has emerged as a focus of the crackdown, with 48 officials facing action.
Six food grain inspectors in Bahawalpur have been dismissed from service, Sajid Mahmood Khan, Mohammad Saleem, Asim Ali, Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Ishaq and Tariq Rashid.
Wasim Talha, Haroon Abdullah and watchman Umar Hayat were also dismissed.
Several officials in Gujranwala were also dismissed, including Assistant Food Controller Abu Bakr Raza, Babar Javed, Shafiq, Ansar Butt, Mohammad Nisar, senior clerk Waqar Ahmed, Zulfiqar Ali, Mohammad Ali Shaheen and Atif Hussain.
Food Grain Inspector Nadeem Shahzad of Sargodha, Assistant Food Controller Humayun Shaukat Bhatti of Multan and watchman Riffaqat Ali were also removed from service.
The department has initiated disciplinary proceedings against 14 food controllers over allegations of corruption.
Those facing action include officials in Bahawalnagar, Okara, Narowal, Rahim Yar Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Mianwali.
Disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated against several officials in Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujrat, Attock, Chakwal, Layyah, Gujranwala, Bahawalnagar and Mianwali.
The Anti-Corruption Establishment has also stepped up arrests and registration of cases against officials allegedly involved in bribery and other corrupt practices.
In Vehari, a Union Council Secretary, Riaz Ahmed was arrested in a raid and a case was registered against him.
A senior clerk, Mohammad Ashraf, of Sheikhupura Municipal Corporation was arrested and a case registered against him.
In Faisalabad, a trap raid led to the arrest of computer operator Zainul Islam and UN Secretary Mohammad Aslam.
In Bahawalnagar, Ghulam Murtaza was arrested, while in Mandi Bahauddin, officials arrested local government junior clerk Mudassar Iqbal allegedly while receiving bribe.
In Gujranwala, a case was registered against a Parks and Horticulture Authority field officer, Qamar Zaman, and he was arrested.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had vowed to take the anti-corruption campaign to its logical conclusion.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police has decided to reorganise its Internal Accountability Branch (IAB) to make it more autonomous and effective as part of the provincial government's zero-tolerance policy against corruption within the department.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Inspector General of Police Punjab Abdul Kareem at the Central Police Office on Saturday.
The meeting reviewed measures to strengthen the police accountability mechanism and curb corruption and other irregularities within the force.
The IG said the reorganisation was aimed at ensuring greater transparency, merit and accountability across the police department.
Under the proposed reforms, the IAB will incorporate information received from the Special Branch into its accountability proceedings. The DIG IAB will personally review complaints against sub-inspectors and officers of higher ranks on a daily basis.
Regional SPs of the IAB will conduct inquiries themselves into allegations of corruption, corrupt practices and other irregularities involving sub-inspectors and senior officers.
According to an official handout, such inquiries will not be referred to the relevant districts or regions.
The IG also directed the reopening of complaints previously disposed of on the grounds of "Not Willing to Pursue".
Formal inquiries will be initiated in cases where deemed necessary.
Complaints relating to investigations will be marked at the SP level for further action, while the DIG IAB will closely monitor disciplinary proceedings arising from inquiries conducted by the branch.
The post of AIG Inquiries will also be restored to further strengthen the inquiry and accountability mechanism.
The IG directed that all vacant posts of Regional SPs and DSPs in the IAB be filled on a priority basis.