LAHORE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has unearthed 16 ghost schools in Khurar Buzdar, the native town of former chief minister Usman Buzdar, and summoned him and his relatives for April 3.

According to the ACE, the buildings of these 16 government schools are occupied by members of the Buzdar family.

“Funds for all schools are being released regularly by the Punjab Education Department while the teachers are receiving their salaries regularly every month,” it said and alleged all the schoolteachers of Usman Buzdar’s area Khurar Buzdar had the full support of the Buzdar family.

The ACE has sought a complete record of ghost schools and the teachers appointed there, from the education department.

Usman Buzdar, Umar Khan Buzdar, Toor Khan Buzdar and Shabbir Ahmed Chauhan and the Education Department chief executive officer have been summoned by the ACE on April 3.

Meanwhile, the ACE also launched an investigation against PTI’s former lawmakers -- Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed, Khyal Ahmed Castro, Latif Nazr, Malik Umar Farooq and Shakeel Shahid – on different corruption charges.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2023