Lahore:
The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has launched an investigation into the Rawalpindi Ring Road scandal to determine the ‘criminal liability’ of the individuals. The ACE has launched an investigation on the orders of Chief Minister Usman Bazdar. N) had alleged involvement in the scheme and demanded the formation of a judicial commission comprising a Supreme Court judge to investigate it.
According to local media reports, the scandal shows an unusual link between the two investigative agencies, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the provincial anti-corruption department. The NAB announced an investigation into the matter last week.
“It is rare for two agencies to investigate the same case at the same time,” an official told Dawn.
He said that in general, the NAB, as a higher investigative body, could seek an inquiry from another body, such as the ACE, and this has happened in the past.
The report of the Rawalpindi Commissioner (Gulzar Shah) on the Ring Road scandal suggested that the NAB or the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) should investigate the matter.
However, on the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Usman Bazdar gave the responsibility to the ACE for a better picture of the situation, citing other cases which were investigated separately by the NAB and the FIA, the official said. He said the FIA and NAB had conducted separate investigations into the Chinese and medical college scandals.
On the other hand, an ACE spokesperson said that “the department has started an investigation into the Rawalpindi Ring Road scandal on the instructions of the Chief Minister”.
He said that ACE Director General Gohar Nafees has formed an inquiry team comprising legal, financial and technical experts for a thorough investigation.
According to a senior official, the government decided to involve the ACE in determining “criminal liability” in the scandal so that legal action could be taken against those involved.
He further said that in the light of the report of the ACE Commissioner Rawalpindi, the beneficiaries would look after the affairs of government officials and housing societies.
The commissioner’s report named some private housing societies that were far from the original Ring Road plan but benefited from the alignment.
The report alleges that former commissioner Capt (retd) Mahmood and suspended land acquisition commissioner Waseem Tabish paid Rs 2.30 billion for acquiring land for the road in a wrong way and acquiring land. Benefited the famous family of Sang Jani.
After the controversy came to light, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, also known as Zulfi Bukhari, resigned from his post.
However, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan rejected all allegations of benefiting private housing societies and offered to quit politics if found guilty of corruption.
