Sindh ACE reluctant to proceed in Rs1 billion corruption case

KARACHI: Sindh Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) despite lodging FIR is not ready to proceed in a mega corruption case of billions of rupees due to influence of accused officers. Last year in the month of April after approval of Sindh chief secretary, an FIR was lodged by Sindh Anti-Corruption and Enquiries Department against two former secretaries of Sindh government and a project engineer, one auditor of Sindh Livestock department and two contractors for embezzlement of nearly one billion rupees in “Bhambore Dairy Project, Thatta” of Sindh Livestock department in April 2015. Earlier, this mega corruption scandal was unearthed by ‘The News’ on November 21, 2013, and matter remained untouched due to influence of a former officer. According to the official documents of Sindh Livestock department and Sindh Anti Corruption Establishment record available with The News in 2012, one former secretary withdrew Rs 700million rupees with cooperation of then accountant of the Department in the name of various projects including ‘Bhambore Dairy Project, Thatta’, and fled the country. Interestingly, despite knowing the fact of his corruption, the Sindh government approved his ex-Pakistan leave for five years. This officer had set up two gas stations in , in Toronto, Canada. Audit Report 2011-12 of auditor general of Pakistan had also revealed the fact of thismega corruption. Audit Department pointed out the matter and recommended a thorough investigation of this scam in September 2012, but no proper inquiry was conducted by the Sindh government. Another former secretary with the collaboration of contractor moved a summary to Sindh chief minister pointing out embezzlement of his predecessor requested for approval of Rs 150million for payment to the contractor. The chief minister approved the summary and Rs 150 million were released to the department. In the mean time, the chiefminister came to know about the real story and then payment was restrained through Sindh accountant general. An inquiry committee comprising two senior and well-reputed officers of Sindh government Subhan Memon and Abdul Haleem Shaikh constituted by CM Sindh for investigation into the matter. The inquiry committee found misappropriations, embezzlement and corruption and declared the former secretaries, a project engineer and two contractors responsible. After lodging FIR, Sindh Anti-Corruption Department found involvement of more officers of the department in this corruption matter. Sources of the the Sindh government told The News that two powerful and influential secretaries and one additional secretary and some other persons of Sindh Anti- Corruption Establishment were restrained by higher authorities of the Sindh government from proceeding further in the matter. Sindh Anti-Corruption Department Director told The News that due to huge number of corruption cases, no action could be taken in this matter but very soon thismatter would be preceded and concluded. “There is no pressure from any side on the department in thismatter and this case will be concluded onmerit”, added the director.