Afridi urges public to report corruption with evidence
\nDLP Report
\nPESHAWAR
\nChief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday reiterated his government\u2019s \u201czero-tolerance\u201d policy against corruption, saying indiscriminate action was being taken across the province and no individual would be granted protection or concessions in this regard.
\nHe said the provincial government was fully aware of entrenched corruption channels within the system and was taking \u201cdecisive and effective\u201d measures to eliminate them.
\nThe chief minister disclosed that inquiries were underway against 49 officers, while 19 individuals had been suspended and 17 officials dismissed from service.
\nHe added that action against another 47 individuals was in progress and that more than 150 corruption cases were currently at different stages of investigation and proceedings.
\nMr Afridi said the posting and transfer system in the past had been subjected to unnecessary interference and manipulation, but the present government had made the entire process transparent.
\n\u201cAll postings and transfers are now being carried out under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister\u2019s Secretariat,\u201d he said, adding that even officers being appointed were not informed in advance about their places of posting in order to eliminate pressure, political influence, recommendations and personal interests.
\nThe chief minister alleged that certain elements had launched \u201cblack channels\u201d to create a negative narrative against the government, while some people had been offered financial incentives to promote anti-government propaganda.
\nExpressing concern over what he described as unsubstantiated allegations, he said corruption accusations were being made daily but no credible evidence was being presented to support the claims.
\nReferring to an IMF report, Mr Afridi claimed that corruption amounting to Rs5,300 billion had been identified, but no action was taken on that front in the past, whereas the current provincial government was ensuring transparency and accountability at every level.
\nHe said no one would be above the law, whether an MPA, MNA, senator, bureaucrat or relative of an influential personality, adding that strict action would also be taken against those attempting to exert pressure on the bureaucracy.
\nThe chief minister urged citizens to submit authentic and verifiable evidence of corruption to the Chief Minister\u2019s Secretariat so that immediate action could be initiated.
\nHe also announced that the government would bear the travel expenses of people coming from remote areas to report corruption cases and reward individuals providing authentic evidence.
\nMr Afridi said the government, in line with the vision of Imran Khan, would continue implementing its anti-corruption policy \u201cin letter and spirit\u201d to ensure transparency, merit and the rule of law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Afridi urges public to report corruption with evidence DLP Report PESHAWAR Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday reiterated his government\u2019s \u201czero-tolerance\u201d policy against corruption, saying indiscriminate action was being taken across the province and no individual would be granted protection or concessions in this regard. He said the provincial government was fully aware of entrenched […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-546477","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n