Punjab anti-corruption drive: Police ASI, services hospital clerk held in bribery cases

LAHORE: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Lahore has arrested two government officials in separate alleged bribery cases as part of the Punjab government’s ongoing campaign against corruption.

According to officials, ACE teams, accompanied by a magistrate, carried out raids in Lahore and detained Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Muhammad Mushtaq, who was serving as Personal Staff Officer (PSO) to the DSP Investigation in Islampura.

In a separate operation, ACE officials arrested Hafiz Muhammad Bilal, a junior clerk working in the Nursing Section of Services Hospital Lahore. Officials alleged that Bilal was caught receiving a bribe from a citizen in exchange for facilitating approval of maternity leave.

Marked currency notes were reportedly recovered from Bilal during the operation, according to Anti-Corruption officials. Separate first information reports (FIRs) have also been registered against both accused officials.

The arrests come amid Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s stated policy of zero tolerance toward corruption and misuse of official authority. The provincial government has directed relevant departments and enforcement agencies to take action against officials allegedly involved in bribery or other corrupt practices.

An Anti-Corruption Establishment spokesperson said operations against alleged corrupt elements would continue across Lahore and other districts. The spokesperson added that such action was aimed at improving transparency, accountability and the quality of public service delivery.

Authorities are expected to proceed with further investigation in both cases to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences.