Crackdown on the corrupt: ACE registers 328 cases of corruption worth Rs50m in last 11 months
Numbers were shared by ACE chairperson as he gave a presentation to Sindh CM on progress of his department
PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
In the last 11 months, more corruption cases have been registered than before and the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) claims it is due to their zero-tolerance policy.
Since the beginning of 2015, the department has registered 328 cases of corruption and misappropriation worth Rs50 million. In the same period last year, only 151 cases were registered while there were only 180 registered in 2013.
These numbers were shared by ACE chairperson Syed Mumtaz Shah as he gave a presentation to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on the progress of his department on Saturday. The meeting at CM House was attended by Sindh chief secretary Siddique Memon, principal secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo and ACE director Nazar Muhammad Bozdar.
Counter centre’s overreach: Sindh creates its own anti-graft body
"I head the ACE portfolio and I have given you a free hand to eliminate corruption from government departments by developing a comprehensive intelligence network to keep an eye on the working of government servants," said the chief minister. "The people of Sindh have entrusted us to use their funds in their interest and welfare. My policy of intolerance against corruption is loud and clear." Mumtaz shared that 431 challans relating to corruption have been submitted in courts during 2015 and eight officials have been convicted. The chief minister asked him to make sure the under-trial cases are followed up properly. "Your prosecutor and investigating officer must be competent and strong enough to win the cases," said Shah. "When you register a case against a government officer, you must prove it in the court."
The number of cases varies between departments, with the local government (LG) department taking the lead. There are 75 corruption cases and inquiries against officials in the LG department, 46 cases against officers in the education department, 21 against health department officials and 14 against the officials of the Board of Revenue, shared Mumtaz.
52 officers held in anti-corruption drive across Sindh, CM told
Brushing aside the impression of taking action only against junior officer, Mumtaz pointed out that he had arrested a medico-legal officer, who is a BPS grade 18 officer, a BPS grade 20 college principal and several doctors of BPS grade 18. "We do not keep in mind the grades, positions and affiliations of government officers while trapping or registering cases against them," he clarified. "It is the act of corruption and misappropriation that entices us and brings our team into action."
Shah told Mumtaz to activate his own police station for which CM House has approved 30 vans and 50 motorcycles.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2015.
In the last 11 months, more corruption cases have been registered than before and the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) claims it is due to their zero-tolerance policy.
Since the beginning of 2015, the department has registered 328 cases of corruption and misappropriation worth Rs50 million. In the same period last year, only 151 cases were registered while there were only 180 registered in 2013.
These numbers were shared by ACE chairperson Syed Mumtaz Shah as he gave a presentation to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on the progress of his department on Saturday. The meeting at CM House was attended by Sindh chief secretary Siddique Memon, principal secretary to CM Alamuddin Bullo and ACE director Nazar Muhammad Bozdar.
Counter centre’s overreach: Sindh creates its own anti-graft body
"I head the ACE portfolio and I have given you a free hand to eliminate corruption from government departments by developing a comprehensive intelligence network to keep an eye on the working of government servants," said the chief minister. "The people of Sindh have entrusted us to use their funds in their interest and welfare. My policy of intolerance against corruption is loud and clear." Mumtaz shared that 431 challans relating to corruption have been submitted in courts during 2015 and eight officials have been convicted. The chief minister asked him to make sure the under-trial cases are followed up properly. "Your prosecutor and investigating officer must be competent and strong enough to win the cases," said Shah. "When you register a case against a government officer, you must prove it in the court."
The number of cases varies between departments, with the local government (LG) department taking the lead. There are 75 corruption cases and inquiries against officials in the LG department, 46 cases against officers in the education department, 21 against health department officials and 14 against the officials of the Board of Revenue, shared Mumtaz.
52 officers held in anti-corruption drive across Sindh, CM told
Brushing aside the impression of taking action only against junior officer, Mumtaz pointed out that he had arrested a medico-legal officer, who is a BPS grade 18 officer, a BPS grade 20 college principal and several doctors of BPS grade 18. "We do not keep in mind the grades, positions and affiliations of government officers while trapping or registering cases against them," he clarified. "It is the act of corruption and misappropriation that entices us and brings our team into action."
Shah told Mumtaz to activate his own police station for which CM House has approved 30 vans and 50 motorcycles.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2015.