LAHORE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) on Wednesday summoned former federal minister Zartaj Gul and former Punjab finance minister Hashim Jawan Bakht in different corruption probes.

According to the ACE, Zartaj Gul has been accused of taking commission in development works of her constituency.

“Zartaj Gul and her husband Humayun Akhund used to take 10 per cent commission on providing funds for development schemes,” it said and also sought records of Community Development Programme schemes.

The ACE issued a summons notice to Zartaj Gul, Humayun Akhund and the Public Health Engineering officers for April 10.

Former Punjab finance minister Hashim Jawan Bakht was summoned for April 8 to investigate irregularities in public health engineering schemes.

“Mr Bakht, through his frontmen, awarded contracts to preferred contractors at above market rates. In Rahim Yar Khan and Mianwali, despite payment to contractors, several schemes are incomplete, while the use of substandard material has also been revealed in the development schemes,” the ACE said.

The ACE also summoned former chief minister Usman Buzdar on April 10 to investigate corruption in the construction of a 50km long road from Bharathi to Khar Buzdar in Taunsa at a cost of Rs700 million.

“Mr Buzdar committed corruption with the alleged connivance of highways department officers and contractors,” it said.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2023

Opinion

Budgeting without people

Budgeting without people

Even though the economy is a critical issue, discussions about it involve a select few who are not really interested in communicating with the people.

Editorial

Iranian tragedy
Updated 21 May, 2024

Iranian tragedy

Due to Iran’s regional and geopolitical influence, the world will be watching the power transition carefully.
Circular debt woes
21 May, 2024

Circular debt woes

THE alleged corruption and ineptitude of the country’s power bureaucracy is proving very costly. New official data...
Reproductive health
21 May, 2024

Reproductive health

IT is naïve to imagine that reproductive healthcare counts in Pakistan, where women from low-income groups and ...
Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...