Sindh ACE’s body okays registration of five cases against 10 govt officials

In a significant development in the fight against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Committee-One (ACC-1), the highest body of the Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), has approved the registration of five cases against over 10 officials from various Sindh government departments.

After approval, the cases would be registered under stringent anti-corruption laws, involving officials from the Board of Revenue, the Universities and Boards Department, the Irrigation Department and the Education Department. Among those implicated are senior officers in grades 19, 18, and 17, as well as lower-ranking employees.

The list of accused includes high-ranking officials such as assistant commissioners and Mukhtiarkars from the Board of Revenue. Additionally, former officials from the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Mirpurkhas, including a former controller and IT incharge, re also under scrutiny. Besides, cases will also be registered against superintendents and executive engineers from the Sindh Irrigation Department.

The decision to pursue these cases was made during a meeting of the Anti-Corruption Committe-1, the premier body overseeing anti-corruption efforts in Sindh. This pivotal meeting was chaired by the chief secretary of Sindh and attended by prominent figures, including the chairman and director of the Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment, as well as secretaries from the relevant departments.

During the session, 32 cases of alleged corruption involving 11 provincial departments were reviewed. The allegations primarily revolve around misuse of power, causing financial loss to the government treasury, and other corrupt practices.

After a thorough review, the Anti-Corruption-1 committee approved five cases, and sixteen open inquiries for detailed investigations to be conducted into these matters. The matters approved for open inquiries include three cases related to the Board of Revenue, two cases from the Education Department, three cases involving the Sindh Co-operative Societies, and one case each from the Universities and Boards, and the Irrigation Department.

A senior officer of the Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment told The News that this crackdown marks a significant step in the Sindh government’s ongoing efforts to combat corruption. The newly registered cases and open inquiries reflect a broader commitment to accountability and transparency in public service. The anti-corruption bodies are expected to rigorously pursue these investigations to uphold justice and address the financial mismanagement and misuse of authority highlighted by these cases.

Anti-corruption authorities have indicated that further updates on the progress of these investigations will be provided as they develop, underscoring the importance of the ongoing anti-corruption efforts in ensuring integrity within the provincial administration.