LAHORE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has summoned nine former provincial ministers and lawmakers of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for March 28.

According to an ACE spokesperson, former PTI MPAs Chaudhry Adil Parvez Gujjar, Malik Umar Farooq, Chaudhry Ali Akhtar, Mian Waris, Muhammad Latif Nazir, Muhammad Shakeel Shahid and former provincial ministers Ajmal Cheema and Chaudhry Zaheeruddin were allegedly involved in the corruption of Rs300 million in the construction and repair of roads projects.

He said that these suspects along with executive engineer highway Sarmad Akhtar Langriyal also embezzled millions of rupees in the highway contracts.

He said the PTI former lawmakers were summoned on March 28 to record their statements. He said Sarmad Akhtar Langriyal was summoned by the Anti-Corruption Faisalabad Region on March 17.

ACE Director General Sohail Zafar Chatta said these former ministers and MPAs had written a letter for the posting of EXEN Akhtar Langriyal to embezzle the government funds, which had the signatures of all of them.

He said strict legal action would be taken against the corrupt mafia and those involved in misusing government funds and receiving kickbacks for contracts.

Meanwhile, the ACE re-summoned former excise minister Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed of the PTI for recruiting a patwari, construction of paved roads in local government after receiving bribes.

He was accused of taking a bribe of Rs200 million for recruiting 32 patwaris, the ACE said, adding he also allegedly received Rs6m for awarding a contract to his favourite persons to build the paved road.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2023