LAHORE - The Anti-Corruption Establishment has been asked by the Punjab government to complete an inquiry pending against Director General Rescue-1122 for the last seven years.

In 2010, the anti-graft body had initiatives an inquiry against Dr Rizwan Naseer, Head of the Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue-1122), on charges of corruption during the procurement of substandard recovery vehicles. Official sources revealed that the inquiry initiated in 2010 is still pending “after lapse of considerable time despite its serious nature.

The Punjab’s Services and General Administration Department on Wednesday sent a letter to the anti-corruption establishment and requested the authorities concerned that the “inquiry under reference may be concluded within stipulated time to proceed further in the matter.

According to the letter , the Director General of the anti-graft body was asked to complete the inquiry “regarding procurement of substandard recovery vehicles against DG-Rescue 1122.  The letter says, “I am directed to refer to the subject noted above and draw kind attention to an inquiry initiated by the Anti-Corruption Establishment in the year 2010 on the direction of the Honourable Lahore High Court passed on the petition filed by Khalid Masood Advocate, Masood Law Company, Lahore, and to submit that the said inquiry is still pending after lapse of considerable time despite its serious nature.”

Sources in the Rescue-1122 say the department had purchased substandard recovery vehicles including cranes worth millions of rupees in 2010. The Lahore High Court had directed the anti-graft body to initiate an inquiry against the DG Rescue-112. But the department hushed up the matter and the kept inquiry pending for years.