Anti-Corruption Establishment to computerize the record of cases:ACS Shumail Khawaja

Lahore: Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Shumail Ahmad Khawaja has taken notice of unnecessary delay in the completion of 22000 cases, pending with Provincial Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), and directed to formulate an effective system of accountability and evolve amendments in the existing rules and regulations for this purpose within a week.

Addressing a briefing meeting regarding performance of ACE at Civil Secretariat, here today, the Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Shumail Ahmad Khawaja expressed concern over the fact that there is no timeline under the existing rules and regulations for completing departmental inquiries in the cases of serious nature and bringing corruption cases to their logical end.

He said that due to delay in inquiries against government officials for a long period, the concerned officers have to face problems in promotion while the image of some officers involved in bogus cases due to personal grudge is tarnished.

Additional Chief Secretary directed authorities concerned to send challans of such cases of corruption and irregularities in which there is ample evidence to the courts so that action could be taken against corrupt elements while those honest government officers who have been involved in bogus cases could be saved from victimization. He also expressed his concern over the low conviction rate on challans sent by ACE to courts and said that such cases should be closely monitored in which the accused gets acquittal from courts due to insufficient evidence.

Additional Chief Secretary also directed to prepare a draft law for amendments in rules and regulations of ACE so that it could be made binding upon investigation officers to complete inquiries within timeline. He said that in case of non-completion of a case due to unavoidable reasons, the officer concerned will have to give reasons for delay and formally get permission from his senior officer for an extension which will not be in excess of a certain period.

Additional Chief Secretary directed DG ACE to computerize the record of progress of cases in ACE at every level and present implementation report by next week so that bogus and illegal complaints could be checked. He also directed to benefit from the manual of Prosecution Department Punjab.

Secretary Services Punjab Farhan Aziz Khawaja, Secretary Regulations Dr. Saleh Tahir and Secretary I&C Farasat Iqbal besides Secretary Prosecution Ali Murtaza who has been given additional charge of the post of Director General Anti-Corruption Establishment participated the meeting.