SC suspends Punjab ACE rules requiring CM's permission prior to taking action against bureaucrats

E-Paper | June 14, 2026

SC suspends Punjab ACE rules requiring CM's permission prior to taking action against bureaucrats

Rana Bilal Published November 16, 2018

Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment director general says the body cannot even file an FIR against top-level bureaucrats without the chief minister's permission. ─ File photo

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The Supreme Court on Friday suspended certain clauses within the The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Rules 2014 which required the provincial ACE to obtain a chief minister's permission before taking action against top-level bureaucrats.

A two-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar took up a petition filed by ACE Director General (DG) Hussain Asghar in which he stated that it is mandatory for the body to take permission from the chief minister before initiating proceedings against any high-profile bureaucrat.

"If the chief minister does not give the go ahead, the body cannot even file a first investigation report against a bureaucrat," Asghar said.

The court subsequently suspended Rules 5, 6 and 10 of the ACE rules, in which certain sub-rules pertain to obtaining the chief minister's permission prior to taking action against senior bureaucrats.

The court also ordered that a pending anti-corruption inquiry before the Lahore High Court should be wrapped up within two weeks.

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Rana Bilal is a Lahore-based reporter for Dawn News (TV) with over nine years of experience covering legal affairs, justice-sector developments, and environmental issues. He can be found on X at @ranabilaldawn.

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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani

Nov 16, 2018 01:53pm

The question is: now will Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) arrest corrupt and dishonest bureaucrats who have been accused of wrongdoings without the prior permission from CM? Let's wait and see!

Recommend 0

Nov 16, 2018 03:40pm

Info to CM atleast is still suggested. Same must be applied in all provinces across pakistan. Court must give directives wherever possible applicable across the country to avoid waste of time and resources

Recommend 0

Saif Zul

Nov 16, 2018 04:44pm

Bureaucrats are like any other ciitizen of the country. No special treatments when they break the laws.

Recommend 0

Ahsan Gul

Nov 16, 2018 09:50pm

Productive change that will bring good governance and honesty. We need to get out of British period mentality and doing things.

Recommend 0

Parvez

Nov 16, 2018 10:41pm

Good step taken by the SC ...... rules like this are made by the corrupt to protect themselves.

Recommend 0

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