MULTAN: The Punjab government has denotified Multan Development Authority vice chairman Mumtaz Ahmed Qureshi after the Anti- Corruption Establishment (ACE) launched a probe into the allegations of making illegal assets against him.

A letter addressing the chief secretary, housing and urban development secretary and the implementation and coordination secretary, written by Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Iftikhar Ali Sahu on Aug 23 states: “While approving the denotifi cation of Mumtaz Ahmed Qureshi, as member/vice chairman of the MDA, with immediate effect, the chief minister has desired that the matter may be placed before the provincial cabinet for nomination of following as members/vice chairman of the MDA’.

The names of Ashraf Nasir and Malik Farukh Naseem Raan were recommended for members/vice chairman of the governing body.

In his source report on Aug 18, ACE Deputy Director (Legal) Syed Anwar Hussain states quoting “reliable sources” that Mr Qureshi, who is MDA former DG, and currently working as MDA vice chairman caused a huge loss to the national exchequer, misusing his authority and made illegal properties by indulging in corruption.

A majority of these properties are in the name of his wife and children, it adds, seeking a probe into the matter under the Punjab Anti- Corruption Rules 2014 for recovery of the assets.

The ACE summoned Mr Qureshi along with the details of the properties owned by him and his heirs, but he did not appear before it for recording statement.

Mr Qureshi, however, said the allegations levelled against him were baseless and he was already cleared by a judge of an anti-corruption court in the matter.

He said he did not expect a fair probe by the ACE as the same officer who prepared the source report against him was probing the matter, despite being himself the accuser. It was against the basic principles of justice, he said.

He said he had himself offered to resign from the office, and that his name was removed from the governing body and as vice chairman on his own request.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2020