The Director General of Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Punjab, Sohail Zafar Chattha, has taken stern action against 21 officers and officials of his own department allegedly involved in corrupt practices, ordering their suspension, blacklisting and surrender to their parent departments. The action comes as the provincial government has stepped up its campaign against corruption and directed ACE to strengthen accountability within its own ranks while pursuing corrupt elements across Punjab.

The move follows directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Chief Secretary Zahid Akhter Zaman to the anti-corruption department to root out corruption and spearhead an extensive operation against corrupt practices across the province. The action assumes particular significance because it has been taken against officials serving in the very institution mandated to investigate corruption and prosecute those accused of financial and administrative wrongdoing.

According to official details obtained by Daily Jang, 21 officers and officials are presently blacklisted under suspension or surrendered to their parent departments. The list includes senior officers, prosecutors, police personnel as well as ministerial and subordinate staff posted at different regional offices of ACE. Chattha has adopted a particularly tough stance towards allegations of corruption within the ACE, making it clear that officials of the department will not receive any special treatment merely because they belong to the anti-corruption agency.

He has said that officers and officials of the ACE found involved in corrupt practices would be made "horrible examples", signalling that disciplinary action would be pursued against those found responsible.