KARACHI: Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) is set to absolve officers of District Municipality Corporation (DMC) East from alleged corruption by allowing billboards and hoardings in violation of Supreme Court orders.
ACE Karachi East Zone-11 Deputy Director Lal Dino Mangi received a Confidential Final Report (CFR) of the inquiry against DMC officers absolving them of involvement in corrupt practices.
The notification, a copy of which is available with this correspondent, has recommended closing the matter in line with the recommendations of the investigative officer Assistant Director Anti Corruption Zahid Ahmed Rahujo.
Earlier, ACE had received evidence of alleged corruption by officers of DMC East’s Outdoor Advertising Department by illegally allowing billboards on private properties.
ACE had launched an inquiry into widespread corruption conducted by Deputy Director Anti-Corruption East Zone Zameer Abbasi. The inquiry has been completed and a case was expected to the lodged against the Advertising Department’s officials.
The names of the officers involved in the inquiry include Municipal Commissioner DMC East Wasim Mustafa Soomro, Director Abdul Ghani, Deputy Director Akhlaq Ahmed, and Inspector Advertising Fazal Abbas.
READ MORE: DMC East’s Outdoor Advertising officers allegedly involved in corruption
It has now been revealed that DMC officers transferred the investigative officer to suppress the matter and absolve all officers from corruption allegations. Sources informed that DMC East Mooed Anwar paid hefty amounts to divisional officers within the Sindh government to suppress the inquiry.
The investigating officer Zameer Abbasi had concluded the inquiry and was set to lodge an FIR before he was transferred from East Zone with the assistance of the Sindh Secretariat. Zahid Ahmed Rahujo was brought in who has now recommended closing the matter which has been approved by ACE.
In a letter dated February 13, 2020, Zameer Abbasi had recommended t register cases against five officers of the Advertising Department DMC East and seven others for alleged corruption worth six million rupees.
The officers were accused of illegal advertisements through steamers and bridge panels, besides receiving monthly payments from illegal billboards installed at various locations, causing heavy loss to the national exchequer.
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