SIALKOT - Police have left behind all the other government departments with regard to corruption and power abuse in Gujranwala Division during the current year.
According to Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) officials, the police department also remained top in getting bribe as the ACE received 893 complaints of corruption and bribe against policemen. The ACE registered maximum cases of corruption and bribe against police officials due to which the police department stood first in the region in corruption and bribe.
The ACE received 780 complaints against the corruption of the land revenue record centres, Patwaries, revenue department officials, Qanoongos, Naib Tahesildars and Tehsildars. The revenue department got second position in the corruption complaints.
The senior officials added that the ACE also received 310 complaints of corruption and bribe against the Local Governments, Local Bodies, Municipal Committees and Community Development; 187 complaints against school education department and 125 complaints against the corruption of health department employees and officials during 2017.
The ACE also arrested 39 notorious proclaimed offenders (POs) wanted in several cases besides arresting 313 employees and officials of different government departments (including 21 guzzetted officers of Grade 17 to 20 and 292 non gazzetted officials.
The ACE teams also arrested 81 government officials red handed while taking bribe after raiding at various places with the help of local civil judges and magistrates during 2017. It registered 44 cases of corruption and bribe against officials of the different departments besides submitting challans of 367 cases before the courts.
The Anti Corruption Establishment (ACE) will soon start giving lectures to the students of all the universities, colleges and schools to create maximum awareness against corruption besides seeking active cooperation of the students for the elimination of the menace.
Meanwhile, police arrested suspect for illegally entering the prohibited area of the Sialkot International Airport.
According to the police, the accused was later identified as Luqman Iqbal a resident of Gujranwala. Police have sent the accused behind the bars after registering a case against him.
Armed men create panic
among journalists
Four armed motorcyclists created panic among the journalists by firing on the main gate of the Sialkot Press Club.
Secretary General Ch Rasheed told the Rangpura police that several senior journalists were present in the building of the Sialkot Press Club when four unknown armed on two motorcycles reached there and the fired several bullets on the main gate. The accused fled away by firing in the air. The incident created panic among the local people and journalists.
The club management has submitted an application to the Rangpura police for the registration of a case.
Meanwhile, police visited the Sialkot Press Club and reviewed the situation after the firing. They assured the mediamen of early arrest of the accused.
The senior journalists staged a protest demonstration in front of the Sialkot Press Club against the firing incident. They were carrying banners and placards. They also strongly condemned the firing incident. They unanimously passed a condemnation resolution demanding early arrest of the attackers.
PROPERTIES SEALED: Special teams of Excise and Taxation (E&T) Department have sealed 370 properties including 60 showrooms of the tax defaulters, and impounded 247 vehicles for the non-payment of taxes
Over 300 teams participated in the crackdown against the defaulters in Gujranwala Division’s all the six Sialkot, Narowal, Gujrat, Mandi Bahaud Din, Hafizabad and Gujranwala districts.
According to the E&T officials , the teams also seized hundreds of vehicles with unauthorized numberplates during the special checking. The officials added that millions of rupees are unpaid in shape of property, luxury, professional and token taxes by the owners. They were reluctant to pay their outstanding pending arrears by using their complete political influence besides neglecting the repeated recovery notices.