24 February 2005	Thursday	14 Muharram 1426

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KARACHI, Feb 23: Maj-Gen Farooq Khan of the Prime Minister's Inspection Team arrived here from Islamabad on Wednesday and started investigations into charges of corruption levelled by sacked provincial minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh and Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim against each other.

The official has been deputed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz at the request of Imtiaz Shaikh who has expressed lack of confidence in the investigation being carried out by the Anti-Corruption Establishment of Sindh, alleging that revenue records and evidences were being pruned on the orders of the chief minister.

Gen Farooq has been assigned 30 days to complete the inquiry and submit his report to the prime minister. According to reliable sources, Gen Farooq called on Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and remained with him for about 45 minutes. The sources said no third person was present at the meeting.

The official also visited the Chief Minister's House where, the sources said, Chief Minister Arbab Rahim produced about a dozen witnesses who alleged that their land had been grabbed by Shaikh brothers.

Gen Farooq was also shown some slides and given some papers relating to 'corruption' of the minister, the sources said. He spent about three hours at the Chief Minister's House where representatives of intelligence agencies also met him.

According to the sources, ACE chief Asad Ashraf Malik and its director Sultan Khwaja made presentations on their findings about alleged tampering with the old revenue record. The officers, who had carried out initial investigations against the revenue minister, are also reported to have handed over some documents to Gen Farooq.

The prime minister's representative, it is learnt, has summoned Mr Shaikh at the State Guest House on Thursday to hear his point of view and have a look at evidences relating to his allegations against the chief minister.