Jhang registry scam reaches Lahore High Court: Chief Justice Alia Neelam lashes out at anti-corruption Punjab

_Calls IO’s Conduct “Deception of the Court” | Seeks Complete Overhaul of Anti-Corruption System by 12 October_

*The *Lahore High Court* has taken a major suo motu-style notice of systemic flaws within *Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab*, while hearing a bail matter linked to the infamous *Jhang Registry Office Scandal*.

The scandal, which first surfaced in *2020*, involves the creation of *six fake registries* at the Jhang Registry Office.

*1. BEYOND ONE CLERK: THE WIDER NEXUS*

The investigation, which is now being re-opened on the orders of the High Court, reveals the scam was not a one-man job.

According to the initial FIR and departmental record, the following categories are now under the scanner again:

– *Registry Staff Nexus:* The Registry Muharrar *Taj Muhammad* was the central figure, but record tampering and re-use of cancelled documents points to involvement of junior clerks and patwaris in the Tehsil Registry Office.
– *Private Beneficiaries:* The private buyers and sellers who used these fake registries for massive tax evasion and illegal transfer of land.

*Exclusive Finding:* The Anti-Corruption department, in its recent supplementary report, had attempted to declare the main accused as *”innocent”*. Taking strong notice of this, *Chief Justice Alia Neelam* termed the entire procedure adopted by the Investigating Officer (IO) as *”a deception played upon the court”*, which is why files of all other accused are now being reopened.

*2. NOT JUST BAIL, BUT SYSTEMIC REFORM: 12 OCTOBER DEADLINE*

In a significant development, the Chief Justice has refused to limit the proceedings to just one accused’s bail.

The court has linked the future of the case to the *complete reform of the Anti-Corruption system*:

– *SOPs To Be Framed:* *Director General Anti-Corruption Punjab, Sohail Zafar Chattha*, who appeared before the court, has been given a clear deadline of *12 October* to submit a complete, transparent, and modern working system (SOPs) to the court. The aim is to ensure that such high-profile cases are not kept pending for 6 years.
– *Director-Level Inquiry Ordered:* On the assurance of the DG, a *Director-level officer* will now personally conduct an inquiry into the Jhang case and the suspicious conduct of the IO, and will present his report before the court on 12 October.

The court has adjourned the case till *12 October*. On that day, the DG Anti-Corruption will present the new system file, and in light of that, a final decision on the bail of the accused *Taj Muhammad* will be taken.