The Anti-Corruption Establishment of Punjab has lodged a case against Mohammad Khan Bhatti, former aide to ex-chief minister Punjab Parvez Elahi, multiple reports in the media suggest.
Bhatti is accused of taking over Rs460 million as bribe from the officials of Punjab Highway Department.
Furthermore, reports in the media suggest that the preparations to arrest the former aide are already in their final stages.
“Several officials from the communications and construction departments were working for Muhammad Khan Bhatti,” according to the FIR.
The political aides were de-notified after caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi took office.
It further said that the role of other officials of the department would also be probed in relation with the charges.
Late last month, Elahi’s driver and gunman were held for allegedly carrying liquor bottles in Islamabad.
Several appointments were made in some 31 government departments on political basis during the term of the former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi.
It was revealed as the chief secretary of the province sought details of political appointments in different government departments.
According to the report, the appointed persons enjoyed the perks given to the officers, while they were also given vehicles on the verbal directives from the Chief Minister’s House.
In a more recent development, Moonis Elahi, Elahi’s son, said political assistants of the ex-chief minister weren’t paid anything from the exchequer, but a report published in the media debunked the claim.
It quoted one of the officials as saying that only five of the 14 vehicles have so far been returned to the government.
The report refuted the claim, quoting officials. It said that 14 political assistants, out of a total of 117, were handed vehicles, petrol, and allowance for maintenance and drivers.
It also quoted one of the officials as saying that only five of the 14 cars have so far been returned to the government.
It’s pertinent to mention here that the political aides were de-notified after caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi took office.
According to an analysis, there’s no way forward for the economy without slashing the military and bureaucracy expenditure.
Economist Dr Kaiser Bengali told ‘Khabar Say Aagay’ host Raza Rumi that the situation isn’t in the hands of the government; the decision is to be made by the army and the bureaucracy.
He also called for abolishing 15 to 20 ministries and shutting down departments such as the post office.
