SAHIWAL: Local office of the Anti-Corruption Establishment has unearthed a scam in which owners of a marquee allegedly avoided payment of Rs43890,000 as conversion, commercial and building fee in connivance with the Tehsil Municipal Administration.

According to ACE Director Shafqat Ullah, Rana Akram and Ashraf, started operating a marquee as a banquet hall and a hotel on a 10-kanal piece of agricultural land in Balat Ganjh locality on Multan Road in 2017. Over the two years, they avoided payment of conversion, commercial and building fee to the TMA, that totaled up to Rs43890,000.

The director said that during an internal inquiry conducted on a complaint (No 322/2017), it was found that the payment of the fees was avoided in connivance with some TMA officials by bribing them.

Chief officer, two TMA officials also booked

The matter was reported to the then TMA administrator who ordered an internal inquiry into the issue. After the probe found the TMA officials guilty, the matter was handed over to the ACE.

During the ACE investigation, the marquee owner approached the Lahore High Court for a stay but his plea was rejected. Instead, the court cancelled directed the district revenue department to evaluate the total conversion fee that had been evaded.

In the light of the findings of the probe, the ACE registered a case (12/19) under sections 166, 420 of the Pakistan Penal Code and PCA 5-247 against Chief officer Agha Hymayoun, ex-building superintendent Muhammad Rafiq, building inspector Asif Javed, and the owners Muhammad Ashraf and Rana Muhammad Akram.

COPS PENALISED: As many as 45 employees of Punjab police were handed down punishments over misconduct, inefficiency and poor performance by Regional Police Officer Shariq Kamal.

RPO after hearing various cases at Ardal Room dismissed seven policemen from services, commuted service of nine officials, demoted four and stopped promotion of as many others for two years.

Similarly, 21 police officals were penalised over misconduct.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2019