LAHORE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on Tuesday arrested five officials of the irrigation department on corruption charges.

According to an ACE spokesperson, Executive Engineer Imtiaz Akbar Bhatti, sub-divisional officers Muhammad Aslam, Farhat Ali and Muzaffar Ali and sub-engineers Hashmat Nabi and Muhammad Shahid were allegedly involved in preparing fake entries of purchase of diesel oil during their posting at the machinery branch of the irrigation department Lahore division.

He said an investigation team formed under ACE Vigilance Director Abdul Salam Arif had recommended registration of a case against them. The suspects were arrested from the Lahore High Court after their pre-arrest bails were cancelled, however Muzaffar Ali managed to escape. The spokesperson said raids were being conducted to arrest him.

ACE Director General Gohar Nafees said that indiscriminate action was being taken against corrupt elements across Punjab. Every single penny of the public exchequer stolen would be recovered, he claimed.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2020