LAHORE: Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) of Punjab  arrested Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member National Assembly Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf for illegally occupying state land. In statement, ACE said that Ashraf is PML-N lawmaker elected from NA-148

. Ashraf faces accusations of encroaching on state-owned land by forging land documents and records in connivance with revenue officer (Patwari). ACE registered case against lawmaker. Document revealed that Ashraf fraudulently faked ownership document (gardawari) of state-owned land of over 150 canals in Chak no 6-R/90 of Sahiwal.

Gardawari is legal revenue department document used in Pakistan that specifies land and crop details. According to details, MNA Ashraf, had land allotted in name of one Sharif Ahmed Hashmi, who doesn’t exist, by bribing revenue staff and colony clerk and has been cultivating crops on it for long time without paying anything to government. Document further says that accused has been dealing losses worth millions of rupees to national kitty with impunity and must be brought to justice.

Terming MNA Chaudhry Ashraf’s arrest as part of Punjab coalition government’s political witch-hunt, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned  move in strongest of words. He accused PTI Chairman Imran Khan of giving orders to use anti-corruption department against political rivals. “PTI is still pursuing negative policy of political harassment. You have seen it in last four years,” PM said adding that such stances had harmed country irrevocably. He said after setting National Accountability Board on their political opponents, PTI was now using ACE as tool for harassing them (government and allies) was highly deplorable.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 28 2022

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