MULTAN, July 28: The Lahore High Court Multan bench on Wednesday summoned the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment director on Sept 15 on a contempt application and sought written reply from him within a fortnight.

Earlier, disposing of the petition filed by Yousaf, Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry had declared that the ACE should not drop cases on its own and instead send them to court for decision. In this respect, the judge had directed the provincial ACE director to forward the case against EDO and DO buildings, Kot Addu, to court.

The petitioner had the case registered against buildings department officials on allegations of wrongdoing in awarding contracts and moved court after the ACE director ordered dropping cases against the officials.

Later, he filed contempt of court application when the respondent failed to implement court order and the judge summoned the director on July 28. However, ACE additional director (technical) Siddique Chattha appeared before court on Wednesday informing the judge that the ACE director could not come as he had to appear before the supreme court in a case.

He undertook to send the case against the buildings department officers to the ACE court after completion of investigations. The judge directed that the ACE director should appear in person on Sept 15 and submit written reply within two weeks. The judge also issued notice to the additional director seeking reply from him within a fortnight. -APP