Anti-corruption: Order inquiries before FIRs, judges told

Anti-Corruption Establishment told to invite complaints from the public.

LAHORE:

The district and sessions judges in the province have been directed to order inquiries before passing orders for the registration of criminal cases with the Anti-Corruption Establishment, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Justice Shaikh Najamul Hasan of the Lahore High Court. The meeting was attended by the Anti Corruption Establishment director general, the ACE legal director, the ACE additional director and Inspection Team Additional Member Muhammad Yousaf Aujla.

Justice Hasan directed judges not to order the registration of criminal cases with the ACE, without first ordering an investigation into the matter, as is required by the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947.

The ACE director general said this was necessary because the department faced a shortage of staff and was considered an “un-attractive department for the officers of the Police Department”. He said he had moved the matter before the chief minister.

Justice Hasan said the law did not have a provision for fixing a deadline for a report by the investigation body. He told the director general to invite, from the general public, complaints against officers who were living beyond their means and possessed property disproportionate to their known income. He told the ACE to advertise the procedure [complaint boxes outside offices of circle officers and in the ACE] of registering complaints. He said people should be educated regarding the process of conducting raids as well.

He also directed the establishment DG and legal director to evolve a strategy for cases, in which government officers are nominated or involved, registered with local police.

He also directed anti-corruption courts in the Punjab to record witnesses’ statements as quickly as possible and relieve early.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2014.