MULTAN, Jan 4: The Anti-Corruption Establishment claim to have arrested 71 corrupt officials of different departments and recovered Rs7.6 million from their possession during the last month.

The ACE arrested senior editor, district account officer Ahmad Baksh Jaskan, and recovered from his possession Rs2.3 million. He was alleged to have embezzled the GP Fund.

Vehari DHQ Hospital’s accountant Muhammad Ilyas was held for allegedly embezzling medicines’ funds and also recovered Rs1.4 million from his custody.

The ACE also arrested Irrigation SDO Nazir Ahmad and recovered from his possession Rs2 million. Patwari Saleem Akhtar was arrested on the charge of drawing Rs500,000 from the Agriculture Development Bank by using fake documents.

Muzaffargarh Irrigation SDO Liaquat Ali was held for allowing landlords to steal canal water after taking bribe.

The rest of the amount was recovered from the officials of the education, food, police, health, irrigation and account departments.

The ACE disposed of 196 cases and 256 inquiries during the last month.

PPP: The government should take into confidence politicians over the tense border situation.

This was urged by PPP district president Habibullah Shakir advocate while talking to a gathering organized to celebrate the 74th birthday of the party founder, late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

He said that only a democratic government could pull the country out of internal and external crises, adding that only Ms Benazir Bhutto had the acumen to do so.

“She should be called back to play the role as country’s saviour, he added.

The late Mr Bhutto not only faced challenges on foreign front but also injected a sense of awareness, self-respect and protection of rights among the masses, he added.