LAHORE, Jan 15: The Anti-Corruption Establishment, Punjab, registered 710 cases against government officials, most of them against police and revenue, in 2003.

ACE director Brig Aslam Ghumman (retired) said at a press conference here on Thursday that the department had disposed of 6,338 inquiries last year. Of them, 1,993 were found true and cases were registered.

He said the department had also cleared the backlog of previous years' inquires and cases. Brig Ghumman said the number of complaints against police was more than any other department. He, however, regretted that a number of complainants withdrew their complaints during investigation.

As many as 2,343 inquiries were initiated against the 12 provincial departments in 2003. Of them, 710 were converted into cases with 216 against the revenue, 104 against police, 70 against district governments, 62 against education, 61 against home department, 46 against housing and urban development, 38 against health, 36 against irrigation and power, 25 against C&W, 17 against food, seven against excise and taxation and 28 against other departments.