MULTAN, Feb 23: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of Multan has sought permission of the Punjab government for the arrest of an executive engineer (XEN), involved in over Rs4 million corruption.

ACE sources told APP on Monday that XEN Javed Anwar of the Pakpattan Public Health Engineering department sanctioned public funds for civic projects worth Rs6.86 million but spent Rs11.535 million, thus overspending Rs4 million illegally.

On inspection the schemes were not found on the ground. Moreover, the XEN also increased the cost of three development schemes from Rs15,000 each to Rs34,569, Rs37,000 and Rs52,000 unauthorisedly.

The Multan ACE took the action against the XEN on the application of Chaudhry Sardar of Sahiwal's Tehrik Islah-i-Muashra. During initial investigations, the XEN was found guilty of corruption and misappropriation.

Meanwhile, the Multan ACE booked a local government department's assistant director, an SDO and two contractors of Muzaffargarh for embezzlement of public funds to the tune of Rs2.9 million.

Assistant Director Mian Miraj Din, SDO Abdul Khaliq and contractors Zafar Ali and Mukhtiar Ahmad misappropriated public funds amounting to Rs2.9 million in various development schemes of Jatoi tehsil.

Nishtar Hospital's Social Welfare Officer Chaudhry Subh Sadiq misappropriated medicines meant for the poor worth Rs300,000. A case has been registered against the accused, who fled abroad.

A case has been registered against a Forest Guard of Mian Channu, Manzoor Safdar, for tampering with the official record and embezzling Rs300,000 worth of state timber. ASI Iqbal of Fateh Sher, Vehari, and Constable Muhammad Husain have been booked for extorting Rs26,000 bribe for the release of detained Muhammad Hussain of the area. -APP