MULTAN, Jan 22: The Lahore High Court, Multan Bench, on Thursday directed the Punjab irrigation secretary to refer case against employees involved in around Rs250 million scam to the ACE , and submit compliance report within a week.

Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry issued the order after a senior irrigation department officer informed the court on the petition of a contractor Masood, seeking his dues worth around Rs499,000 million, that these dues related to some bogus claims of contracts worth Rs250 million detected in 1995-96.

He said an SE, executive engineer, SDO and other employees were involved in the scam. He added that in some cases projects were completed only on papers. He also informed that two officers were also dismissed from service in the case.

He asked how the petitioner could claim to have completed the repair work on Taunsa Barrage gauge in 1996 when its estimation of cost was done in 1998 by the department.

He said DG Khan chief engineer had also sent a report on recovery of over Rs87.3 million, but no action has so far been taken on the same. The judge dismissed the petition, and observed that none of the irrigation authorities referred the matter to the ATC to prosecute those involved in the scam.-APP