Sindh E&ACE ‘overlooks’ chief secy’s orders for probe

KARACHI: The Sindh Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment (E&ACE) has reportedly overlooked directives from Chief Secretary Dr. Fakhre Alam Irfan to investigate alleged irregularities and corruption in the Sindh Assembly Secretariat.

The chief secretary’s order came in response to a detailed 48-page note, accompanied by documentary evidence, submitted by Senior Special Secretary Muhammad Khan Rind.The note highlighted concerns ranging from misappropriation of government funds and misuse of official vehicles to alleged embezzlement in the employee honoraria.

Despite submission of compelling evidence, sources in the Sindh E&ACE reveal, Chairman Syed Zulfiqar Shah failed to take any action within the stipulated 25-day period after receiving the directive.

Abdul Saboor Lakho, Section Officer of Sindh Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department, conveyed the chief secretary’s instructions on November 3, 2023, urging immediate inquiry and submission of a comprehensive report.

Notably, the senior special secretary’s note sheds light on the misuse of 121 vehicles belonging to the Sindh Assembly Secretariat, with an exorbitant sum of Rs780 million reportedly spent on petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) and maintenance.

Furthermore, the note of Special Secretary Rind draws attention to a previous inquiry that implicated top functionaries of the Sindh Assembly in an alleged embezzlement of Rs850 million from 2014 to 2017. Despite these findings, no decisive action has been taken to date. In a bid for transparency and accountability, the senior special secretary has called upon the chief secretary to personally investigate these cases and take a legal action against those responsible.

During the last one week, this correspondent tried to reach the E&ACE chairman through phone calls, messages and reminders to seek his comments, but there was no response.Sources in E&ACE, however, said the department will act according to rules.