Names of 41 ‘corrupt’ officials put on ECL

GUJRANWALA: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has decided to put names of 41 government officials on the exit control list (ECL) who are involved in corruption cases and have been declared absconders by the court of law. This was stated by ACE Regional Director Muzaffar Khan Sial while talking to Dawn here on Thursday. He said the ACE had booked these officials of various departments in corruption cases, but they were still at large and were not ready to present themselves for trial since long. Mr Sial said these accused officials were involved in embezzlement of heavy amounts and they could fly abroad at any time. He said the ACE had put their names on the ECL to foil their attempt to slip abroad while the ACE was also in contact with the Interior Ministry. He said at least 56 accused officials, including 22 absconders and four gazetted officers, had been arrested during a recent campaign. Mr Sial said the regional directorate had received as many as 118 new applications against government officials while eight new cases had been registered in April. He said four of the applications had been forwarded to authorities of the departments concerned for departmental action. He said seven government officials had been arrested red-handed while taking bribe during the period. Plan Finalised The district administration has finalised a plan with the help of the army to save 172 villages in Kamoki tehsil and Wazirabad which are feared to come under floodwater during the upcoming rainy season. It was learnt on Thursday that the people residing near banks of the River Chenab, Nullah Palkhu and Nullah Deg might have to face heavy losses in the shape of destruction of crops, livestock and damages to their homes. Keeping in view last year’s losses, officers of the district administration and the army held a meeting in Cantonment and approved a joint plan to avoid losses in future. The participants noted that last year 86 villages in Kamoki, 34 in Gujranwala tehsil and 30 in Wazirabad tehsil had come under floodwater. The meeting also approved Rs6.8 million for immediately carrying out desiltation in Nullah Palkhu. It also decided to repair and strengthen banks of the River Chenab and nullahs from eight places while PC-I of the project had also been approved.