Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to revive anti-corruption authority; act without bias

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has issued directives for holding corrupt mafia accountable without discrimination. He chaired a meeting in this regard and announced that a new act will be implemented for the restructuring of the Anti-Corruption Establishment.

The chief minister has directed to finalise the proposed ‘Anti-Corruption Force Act’. Under the act, the Anti-Corruption Establishment will be replaced by an “Anti-Corruption Authority”. The provincial government also approved the establishment of ‘anti-corruption force’.

This anti-corruption force will have six regional and two sub-regional offices, and its mandate will to function as an effective and comprehensive tool to combat white-collar crimes. During the meeting, it was said that the establishment of this force will help in increasing the current two per cent conviction rate to 80 per cent.

Moreover, registration of false complaints and malpractice in investigation will also be punished. Witnesses will be protected and there will be a solid accountability system within the force.

The force will seize benami properties and take action against those hiding ill-gotten wealth. Yesterday, the force had also made arrests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi in this regard.

CM Gandapur said that establishing the anti-corruption institution on new lines will also end the unnecessary harassment of people.

ANTI-CORRUPTION ACTION IN SWABI

Yesterday (Saturday), the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Anti-Corruption Establishment arrested registrar Khalid Usman, Hamid Hussain and witness Shahzad. The authority had received complaints regarding fake transfers of hereditary land in Razar District of Swabi.

An inquiry was conducted in the city, in which fake transfers of hereditary land were proved, with the connivance of revenue staff. An FIR has also been registered in Swabi against the accused.