A report by Murtaza Baloch
The Anti-Corruption Establishment Multan’s unjust attempt to entrap an innocent civil servant has sparked grave concerns about the organization’s integrity. Recent events have highlighted a troubling pattern within the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) in Punjab, where proper arrest procedures have been disregarded, often with malicious intent. One case in Multan has garnered attention, where the ACE falsely accused a civil servant who was later proven innocent, a stark injustice.
Abid Shabbir Laghari, a sub-registrar in Multan Cantonment, was the target of a raid by the Anti-Corruption Establishment, during which he was accused of accepting Rs. 100,000 in bribes. Interestingly, the money in question was not found in Laghari’s possession but was recovered from another individual. According to standard procedures, the alleged money should have been retrieved from the accused person, raising questions about the validity of the accusations. Furthermore, the individual who filed the complaint leading to the raid was the same person to whom the sub-registrar had reported corruption to the ACE in Multan. This sequence of events raises concerns about the speed and manner in which the ACE responded to the complaint filed by an individual who was himself under suspicion.
Pl subscribe to the YouTube channel of republicpolicy.com
The Judicial Magistrate in Multan eventually released the sub-registrar, acknowledging that the initial FIR was false. This raises serious questions about how an innocent civil servant can be subjected to such treatment. The fact that the ACE leaked the sub-registrar’s picture to the media has further exacerbated the situation. Article 10 of the Constitution of Pakistan provides safeguards against arbitrary arrest and detention, and Article 14 protects the dignity of individuals. Therefore, the actions of ACE in this incident are a cause for concern and demand an immediate inquiry and subsequent action. It is imperative that the Anti-Corruption Establishment upholds due process and the law in its capacity as an investigative organization.
