C&W Secretary halting anti-corruption inquiries

LAHORE - The provincial departments have started influencing the inquiries being conducted by the anti-corruption against the embezzlement of billions of rupees, as the anti-corruption department has been asked to get the permission of the concerned secretary for laboratory tests of the accused. Secretary Communication and Works has stopped officials and officers of his department to appear for the inquiry before anti-corruption without his permission. Most of the inquires are pending against the Irrigation and Communication and Works departments officers and officials. DG Anti Corruption has written a letter to Chief Secretary Punjab and complained about the attitude of the secretaries, saying that such restrictions by the secretaries would hamper the performance of the anti-corruption department. DG Anti Corruption Kazim Ali Malik said that though law allows them to probe irregularities of any department without the permission of the concerned secretary but we dont want to create rift with the secretaries. He said such restrains would halt the main purpose of the anti corruption department. Punjab Chief Secretary has directed Secretary Services to probe into the issue and submit him report. DG Anti Corruption said laboratory tests play key role in inquiries, adding that Anti corruption department has no such laboratory and it has to rely on the laboratories of the Communication and Works department for such tests. He said Communication and Works department has been creating hurdles in inquires of its department officers and officials since long. He said Secretary Communication and Works department has said that he would not allow any inquiry against his staff without his permission. And now Secretary Communication and Works would not receive any laboratory test sample without his permission.