LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has suspended former PA secretary Muhammad Khan Bhatti on the request of the Anti-Corruption Establishment till further orders.

Mr Bhatti has also served as principal secretary to chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf rule in Punjab.

The Punjab Assembly secretary has issued the suspension order on the direction of the speaker, who belongs to the PTI.

Mr Bhatti, who is allegedly involved in corruption during his stint as principal secretary to CM, is currently in the ACE custody.

Meanwhile, the services of Punjab Assembly DG of Parliamentary Affairs Rai Mumtaz Babar and Anayatulla Luk, officiating in place of Bhati, have been terminated. Mr Babar was appointed as DG by former Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

Both Babar and Luk were hired on a contract after their retirement.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Assembly staff members have also been withdrawn from the residence of former chief minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi.

Sources in the Punjab Assembly claimed that some 60 staff members had been called back, including security officials, drivers and cooks.

The ACE police had arrested Mr Elahi near his Zahoor Elahi Road residence on June 1. The ACE had registered a case against Mr Elahi for taking commission in government contracts as well as a case for interfering in government affairs and torture of policemen.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2023