LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday restrained the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) from harassing PML-N MNA Afzal Khokhar and sought a report on cases registered against him.

Khokhar had filed a petition and pleaded through his counsel, Ghulam Sarwar Nehang, that he had been subjected to vindictive actions at the behest of the government as he belonged to the opposition party.

He said the ACE had lodged 11 cases against the petitioner since the opposition launched its movement against the government. Recently, the ACE initiated another inquiry against the petitioner on charges of alleged corruption in the establishment of 32 model bazaars. He said three inquiries had already been conducted into the same matter.

The counsel asked the court to declare the inquiry launched by the ACE against the petitioner illegal and based on mala fide intention.

An additional advocate general objected to the maintainability of the petition and sought time to file a reply on behalf of the government.

Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan restrained the ACE from taking coercive measures against the petitioner and directed the law officer to submit the reply within a week.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2021