LAHORE, Dec 5: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) claimed on Friday to have arrested 800 officials of different departments on corruption charges during the last six months.

ACE Director-General Tariq Saleem told a news conference at his office that most complaints were received against police and revenue departments during the period under review.

He said of the total arrested officials, 160 were from police, 235 from revenue, 102 from local bodies department and the remaining from other departments.

He said the establishment initiated 9,179 inquiries during the period of which 3,773 were against police officials, 590 against revenue, 773 local government, 506 irrigation and power, 381 education, 258 communication and works, 89 excise and taxation, 98 agricultural and 2,711 were against other departments of the provincial government.

Some 1,597 cases were registered of which 571 were against police, 491 against revenue and 111 against the local government. During the period under review, the ACE recovered Rs312,727,086.

Tariq Saleem said he had introduced an accountability system within the department, and the officers deputed at district level had been directed to present their performance reports fortnightly.

He said all inquiries and cases were being dealt with strictly on merit, and there was no political victimisation.