MANSEHRA: Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, director Ziaullah Toru said on Thursday said that despite hurdles being created by lawmakers his department had arrested 302 officials of different government departments and recovered looted amount of Rs300 million from them during last two months.

“I am thankful to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak who has given a free hand to ACE to end corruption from the province and this is why we have arrested 302 employees, including officers, and recovered Rs300 million in last two months,” Mr Toru told an open forum, which was held here at the Circuit House and attended by lawyers, contractors, revenue officials and members of civil society.

The ACE director said that the chief minister had announced to double the staff of the department. He said that if this was done then there should be no doubt about making corruption-free society. He claimed that ACE had now been playing an important role in curbing timber smuggling and time was not far when the menace would be ended.

ACE chief says KP govt sincere in ending corruption

“During last three months timber smugglers have cut trees of over Rs8 billion in the province and we are working on such big issues not only to protect green gold, but also take action against those involved in this business,” he said.

He said that the government had finalised a policy for conservation of forests and giving share to forest owners, but black sheep in the forest department were being taken to justice.

Mr Toru asked people to come forward to end corruption from the society and inform his department so that action could be taken against the corrupt. He said that every complaint was thoroughly checked by ACE and action taken in genuine cases. He said that his department was also focusing on embezzlement of goods and medicines intended for public at the basic health units and other hospitals in the province.

Mr Toru said that though most of the lawmakers were still following the same path to protect their supporters from ACE, but now their recommendations were turned down for the sake of justice.