GUJRAT: The Punjab government has ordered a formal inquiry against two former superintendents, three former deputy superintendents and as many clerks of the Gujrat district jail on charges of financial embezzlement, poor command and control, negligence and failing in observing financial discipline during their postings here a few years ago.

The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has already registered a case in 2018 against some officials of the Gujrat jail (not the senior officers) and the district accounts office on charges of a Rs16.7 million scam from 2016 to 2018.

The fresh inquiry has been ordered by Additional Chief Secretary (home) retired Capt Muhammad Fazeel Asghar against two former superintendents Mansoor Akbar and Imtiaz Ahmed Bhalli, three former deputy superintendents Malik Attaullah, Tahir Ahmed Bhatti and Malik Babar Ali and three clerks including Sarfraz Ahmed, Rashid Ahmed Khan and Salamat Ali Khan.

Additional secretary (home) Dr Asif Tufail has been appointed as an inquiry officer under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, 2006.

The inquiry officer has been tasked to submit his findings within 60 days whereas the accused officers/officials have also been asked to submit their written statements within seven days of the receipt of the orders.

Mansoor Akbar who was now serving as superintendent of Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, has also been transferred by the provincial government after initiation of an inquiry against him whereas the other officers were serving in different jails of the province.

It is learnt that the ACE has already made a recovery of most of the embezzled amount of the Gujrat district jail from the arrested officials of the jail and accounts office.

Sources said the anti-graft agency has reportedly recommended an action against the senior hierarchy of the jail for being negligent and appointing a junior clerk as the jail accounts branch’s head.

Most of the accused officers have earlier denied charges against them in initial probes by their own department.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2019