MULTAN: The Anti-Corruption Establishment, Dera Ghazi Khan, has registered a ‘corruption’ case without proper inquiry against private persons, including a former union council chairman.

As per details, the ACE assistant director investigation in Dera Ghazi Khan prepared a source report according to which Barthi Union Council Chairman Muhammad Aslam Buzdar had embezzled development funds in connivance with some contractors.

The ACE registered the FIR last month against Mr Aslam and unknown contractors under section 409/175 and 5(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

Sources said the ACE had no powers to investigate the alleged assets beyond the means owned by private persons.

They said the FIR was lodged in haste as the ACE officials did not bother to verify whether Aslam was the chairman of the Barthi UC. He, in fact, was the ex-chairman of Fazla Kachh UC.

Talking to Dawn, Aslam said he did not appear before the ACE on Friday. He alleged the FIR lodged against him was politically motivated.

“My opponents are levelling the allegation of embezzlement of millions despite the fact that total funds which were provided for his UC were less than Rs3 million.”

He said his union council was being ignored in connection with development projects.

“No development work is being done in Fazla Kachh and Thekar UCs as the people of these areas had voted against an influential personality.”

DGK ACE Director Hafiz Ahmad Tariq said the FIR had not been lodged under any political pressure, however, he was not in a position to comment on the merit of the FIR as he had no access to the record at the moment.

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2020