Corruption: Officials suspected of issuing fake theatre permits

Investigation Officer recommends their suspension from service, initiation of inquiry, registration of criminal cases.

LAHORE:

The Home Department is likely to initiate an inquiry against three officials who allegedly issued fake permits for 14 theatres to stage performances on Eid, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The Home Department had sealed the theatres in 2011 for violation of the Punjab Dramatic Performance Act 2011 and promotion of obscenity. However, the officials had allegedly issued permits to reopen the theatres without the approval of the competent authority, the home secretary in this case.

On receiving the information, the Home Secretary ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Preliminary investigation suggests that Section Officer Muhammad Faisal, Stenographer Javed Ahmed and Clerk Naveed Butt had accepted bribes from the owners and producers.

The inquiry officer has acquired the permission letters bearing Faisal’s signatures. He has recommended suspension of the three officials, initiation of a regular inquiry, registration of criminal cases and shifting of all official work entitled to the officials.

The inquiry officer said that the accused had written letters to the district coordination officers (DCO) and district police officers (DPO) in four districts, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Gujrat, seeking reports on the activities of the 14 theatres, whose permits had been cancelled.

He said after getting the reports, the accused had contacted the owners and producers of the theatres for personal hearing before the competent authority to issue fresh permits for staging drama performances. When they (owners and the producers) visited the Home Department, he said, the suspects ‘settled a deal’ with them and allowed them to reopen their theatres.

The DCOs and DPOs concerned were directed not to stop the theatres from operating.

However, after the theatre reopened, the district administration contacted the Home Department for instructions. Home secretary directed them to stop the shows saying that no such permission had been issued.

The producers later submitted an application to the home secretary saying they had paid bribes to the three officials for the permits. The home secretary had then ordered an inquiry.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2012.