SAHIWAL: Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) regional judge Asif Bashir has rejected the ‘exit report’ filed by the Okara ACE circle and summoned complainant Muhammad Akram on March 18 in a Rs225 million corruption case against Dr Muhammad Arshad, the former CEO of education for Okara and Sahiwal.

Dr Arshad faces corruption charges amounting to Rs225 million by ACE Okara registered in 2024. The complaint raises questions about how Dr Arshad was given a ‘clean chit’ in a corruption case where 23 charges were substantiated by Ghulam Mustafa, ACE circle officer, during his tenure from 2020-2024.

Last month, Dr Arshad was forcibly retired under Section 5(9) of PEEDA-2006 after an inquiry conducted by Waqar Azim, managing director of PPRA, Lahore, which concluded last month. The inquiry, initiated in early January, revealed multiple instances of corruption.

Dr Arshad’s judicial challan was to be submitted in Sahiwal under an inquiry report, finalised on Aug 13, 2024. However, the inquiry was abruptly shifted to Lahore, whereas the Okara inquiry report confirmed 23 corruption allegations. The then Sahiwal deputy commissioner recommended Peeda proceedings against Dr Arshad.

The inquiry revealed that Dr Arshad engaged in various corrupt activities through his frontmen, including fabricating bogus bills, accepting bribes for teacher and Class IV staff recruitment, misappropriating School Council funds, selling answer sheets, siphoning grants of four seminaries, taking bribes for transfers, embezzling student scholarship funds and purchasing fake furniture for schools. During his tenure in Okara, he allegedly misappropriated Rs225 million within eight months.

Specific corruption charges included Rs2.53 million for petrol, Rs3.5 million in fake TA/DA claims, Rs2 million for postage, Rs2.1 million under cash awards, Rs40 million in other transactions, and Rs13.4 million transferred to family members’ accounts. Additional misappropriations of Rs30 million and Rs10.5 million were also reported under other budget heads.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2025