The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has initiated inquiries against leading Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders who are allegedly involved in corruption and misuse of authority, it emerged on Friday.
Former Punjab Governor
Sources from the ACE confirmed to The Friday Times that notices have been sent to former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema and his sister Fatima Sarfraz Cheema for getting a share in the inheritance of her late husband Dr Zaheer Safdar allegedly through forgery.
“In 2013, Dr Zaheer and Fatima’s divorce was confirmed and the documents had also been submitted in Walton’s Union council,” one of the officials said, and added that after Dr Zaheer's death, a close aide of Imran Khan and former governor helped her sister forge documents to get a share of the inheritance.
Former MNA Ghulam Bibi Bharwana
Sources said that former PTI MNA Ghulam Bibi Bharwana allegedly grabbed a land measuring 50 acres in chak 243 without submitting the government fee to the treasury.
She emerged victorious from her hometown Jhang for four consecutive terms from different political parties.
In 2002, Bharwana became a member of the National Assembly as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) from NA-87, Jhang-II by securing 55,821 votes and was made a Minister of State for Education.
Read here: Hafiz Mumtaz, Former PTI Minister, On ACE Radar In Rs 910 Million Embezzlement Case
In 2008 general elections, she was re-elected from NA-87, Jhang (II) on PML-Q's ticket by securing 63,515 votes.
In 2013, she was elected MNA for the third consecutive term from NA-88, Jhang-III after bagging 87,002 votes as a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate.
Resignation
In 2017, Bharwana resigned from the NA-88 constituency in protest against a member of the party’s Punjab Cabinet who allegedly had a blasphemous attitude towards the finality of prophethood.
Her protest regarding this had been unheard, which is why she resigned from the Chiniot seat in December that year.
In May 2018, she quit PML-N to join PTI and emerged victorious for the fourth consecutive time by securing 91,434 votes.
Amir Dogar
Sources said that a PTI leader, Amir Dogar who hails from south Punjab and is a close aide of Imran Khan had a park in a private housing scheme in Multan in his uncle, Shaukat Dogar's name.
He allegedly used substandard material in the construction of the park. "He along with PHA officials had also minted commission worth billions of rupees and in this regard, an inquiry has been initiated and he has been asked to appear on March 25,” one official privy to this development said.
Farrukh Habib
Sources said that former Minister of State on Information Farrukh Habib allegedly illegally constructed a parking stand on government land.
“Farrukh is accused of receiving huge bribes against awarding contracts to the blue-eyed contractors in various projects in Parks and Horticulture, Faisalabad,” sources said while adding that he allegedly also received huge bribes in the contract of 7.5km carpeting of the road from Faisalabad Satiana Road Fish Farm to Khanwala Chowk. The road still hasn't been completed.
“Currently Farrukh and former MNA Nasrullah Ghumman are facing three inquiries, including the one related to the construction of a petrol pump on a government land,” sources added.
They maintained that a number of notices were issued to Habib but he didn't appear for an inquiry.
MPA Muhammad Waris Aziz
Sources from ACE further shared that former PTI MPA from Faisalabad, Muhammad Waris Aziz, who served as the chairman of Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) during PTI's tenure, is accused of converting 2,500 acres of agricultural land into housing schemes by evading taxes and fees.
While doing so, they added, Aziz allegedly made billions of rupees.
Murad Ras
Sources from the ACE also confirmed that a notice has been issued to former education minister in Punjab, Dr Murad Ras for minting money by awarding contracts to his blue-eyed app developers for the Insaf Academy.
The project was launched in September last year to educate children of class 9 to 12 at their homes via the app.
'Vindictive inquiries'
Meanwhile, Farrukh Habib has alleged that former DIG Islamabad Sohail Zafar Chattha has been posted as DG ACE to file cases against PTI leaders.
“All Faisalabad MNAs and MPAs belonging to PTI have received notices of vindictive inquiries,” Habib said, and said that party's leaders won't leave their chairman irrespective of how many cases are filed against them.
However, sources who privy to this development and those who have worked closely with Chattha said that he is an upright officer known for carrying out his duties on merit and without fear.
“Chattha is an upright officer who is not scared of anyone and has the ability to call a spade a spade without any fear as he never takes anyone’s pressure while performing his duties," they said.
They went on to term the allegations leveled by the former ruling party over the cases 'baseless'.
Former Punjab Governor
Sources from the ACE confirmed to The Friday Times that notices have been sent to former Punjab Governor Umar Sarfraz Cheema and his sister Fatima Sarfraz Cheema for getting a share in the inheritance of her late husband Dr Zaheer Safdar allegedly through forgery.
“In 2013, Dr Zaheer and Fatima’s divorce was confirmed and the documents had also been submitted in Walton’s Union council,” one of the officials said, and added that after Dr Zaheer's death, a close aide of Imran Khan and former governor helped her sister forge documents to get a share of the inheritance.
Former MNA Ghulam Bibi Bharwana
Sources said that former PTI MNA Ghulam Bibi Bharwana allegedly grabbed a land measuring 50 acres in chak 243 without submitting the government fee to the treasury.
She emerged victorious from her hometown Jhang for four consecutive terms from different political parties.
In 2002, Bharwana became a member of the National Assembly as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) from NA-87, Jhang-II by securing 55,821 votes and was made a Minister of State for Education.
Read here: Hafiz Mumtaz, Former PTI Minister, On ACE Radar In Rs 910 Million Embezzlement Case
In 2008 general elections, she was re-elected from NA-87, Jhang (II) on PML-Q's ticket by securing 63,515 votes.
In 2013, she was elected MNA for the third consecutive term from NA-88, Jhang-III after bagging 87,002 votes as a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate.
Resignation
In 2017, Bharwana resigned from the NA-88 constituency in protest against a member of the party’s Punjab Cabinet who allegedly had a blasphemous attitude towards the finality of prophethood.
Her protest regarding this had been unheard, which is why she resigned from the Chiniot seat in December that year.
In May 2018, she quit PML-N to join PTI and emerged victorious for the fourth consecutive time by securing 91,434 votes.
Amir Dogar
Sources said that a PTI leader, Amir Dogar who hails from south Punjab and is a close aide of Imran Khan had a park in a private housing scheme in Multan in his uncle, Shaukat Dogar's name.
He allegedly used substandard material in the construction of the park. "He along with PHA officials had also minted commission worth billions of rupees and in this regard, an inquiry has been initiated and he has been asked to appear on March 25,” one official privy to this development said.
Farrukh Habib
Sources said that former Minister of State on Information Farrukh Habib allegedly illegally constructed a parking stand on government land.
“Farrukh is accused of receiving huge bribes against awarding contracts to the blue-eyed contractors in various projects in Parks and Horticulture, Faisalabad,” sources said while adding that he allegedly also received huge bribes in the contract of 7.5km carpeting of the road from Faisalabad Satiana Road Fish Farm to Khanwala Chowk. The road still hasn't been completed.
“Currently Farrukh and former MNA Nasrullah Ghumman are facing three inquiries, including the one related to the construction of a petrol pump on a government land,” sources added.
They maintained that a number of notices were issued to Habib but he didn't appear for an inquiry.
MPA Muhammad Waris Aziz
Sources from ACE further shared that former PTI MPA from Faisalabad, Muhammad Waris Aziz, who served as the chairman of Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) during PTI's tenure, is accused of converting 2,500 acres of agricultural land into housing schemes by evading taxes and fees.
While doing so, they added, Aziz allegedly made billions of rupees.
Murad Ras
Sources from the ACE also confirmed that a notice has been issued to former education minister in Punjab, Dr Murad Ras for minting money by awarding contracts to his blue-eyed app developers for the Insaf Academy.
The project was launched in September last year to educate children of class 9 to 12 at their homes via the app.
'Vindictive inquiries'
Meanwhile, Farrukh Habib has alleged that former DIG Islamabad Sohail Zafar Chattha has been posted as DG ACE to file cases against PTI leaders.
“All Faisalabad MNAs and MPAs belonging to PTI have received notices of vindictive inquiries,” Habib said, and said that party's leaders won't leave their chairman irrespective of how many cases are filed against them.
However, sources who privy to this development and those who have worked closely with Chattha said that he is an upright officer known for carrying out his duties on merit and without fear.
“Chattha is an upright officer who is not scared of anyone and has the ability to call a spade a spade without any fear as he never takes anyone’s pressure while performing his duties," they said.
They went on to term the allegations leveled by the former ruling party over the cases 'baseless'.