MURREE, Dec 18: Town Nazim Sardar Saleem Khan on Thursday said media reports on alleged corruption in the local government affairs were not based on a conclusive document.

“The audit report, which has been published, is not an audit report but an audit observation,” said Mr Khan while responding to the publication of news items stating that Murree ranked first in corruption in the Punjab province.

The nazim said the present provincial government was against the devolution of power plan and was trying to abolish the system.

He said there was a “pre-audit” mechanism in every town and the authorities did perform audits regularly.

According to Mr Khan, after an audit, the concerned department is asked to clarify its position, and if it failed to do so the audit report is sent to higher authorities for legal action.

“But, in this case the formal procedure has not been adopted and reports have been published in the media,” he said.

Mr Khan claimed that he had not committed any corruption, and announced that if the allegations were proved he would leave politics forever.

“If the Punjab government has any proof, why didn’t it send that to the anti-corruption department or any other court of law.”