FAISALABAD: Former deputy mayors and the union council chairmen claim that a case has been registered against former mayor Abdul Razzaq Malik as punishment for submitting surety bonds for the release of former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah.

Former Municipal Corporation office-bearers -- ex-deputy mayor Abdul Ghafoor, Amin Butt, chairman Atif Kissana and Ghulam Bheek said at a press conference on Thursday the applicant, Sheraz Kahloon, had withdrawn his application about one year ago when he had come to know that no illegality had been committed. However, they said, the Anti-Corruption Establishment registered a case against the former mayor and six other officials of the Municipal Corporation on charges of corruption.

They said Mr Malik submitted the surety bonds for Rana Sanaullah and he had been victimised. They claimed that record showed that no wrongdoing had been committed in the name of the markets as revenue had been deposited with the national kitty.

An ACE official conceded that Mr Malik had been booked for his support for Rana Sanaullah. He said Mr Malik had lawfully run the corporation affairs.

Ex-Dy mayors, UC chairmen claim it’s punishment for submitting surety bonds for Rana Sana

On Tuesday, the ACE registered a case on an application that the former mayor, who is brother of former PML-N MPA Malik Nawaz, and other officials had illegally awarded contract of markets. The complainant alleged that the suspects had embezzled millions of rupees.

The ACE director appointed Assistant Director Masood Nizami as an inquiry officer who found the former mayor, municipal officer Mujeeb Zaman Shami, head clerk Khalid Mehmood, personal assistant to mayor Muhammad Akram and assistant municipal officer Javed Iqbal guilty.

A couple of days ago, Commissioner Ishrat Ali had said all the bazaars were illegal and would be eliminated gradually.

The former office-bearers of the MC said they would appeal to the chief of army staff to provide them justice.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2020