Former Gujrat municipal chief officer booked in third graft case

GUJRAT: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) has registered a third corruption case against former Gujrat Municipal Corporation chief officer Khaliq Daad Gara, who is already in jail in two earlier cases.

According to the first information report, the fresh case was lodged at the Gujrat ACE circle and also names Municipal Officer (Planning) Imran Shah, former building inspectors Saqlain Raza and Mirza Imtiaz Baig, and three brothers — Shuja Ali, Ammar Tahir and Habeeb Ali.

The FIR, based on allegations by complainant Irfan Mughal, says the suspects caused a loss of Rs4.5 million to the national exchequer by charging a lower fee for approval of the design of a commercial building located at Servis Morr on the old GT Road.

The civic agency officials have also been accused of causing financial loss to the Gujrat Municipal Corporation by allegedly taking a heavy bribe to allow the conversion of the property without formal approval from the District Planning and Development Committee. ACE would also hold an inquiry against two junior officials working in the record room.

Gara has remained behind bars for several months. Although a court had issued his release orders in the first corruption case, ACE Gujranwala arrested him again in a second case, and a third case has now also been registered against him.

Former chief officers of Gujranwala Municipal Corporation, Haider Ali Chatha, and Hafizabad district council had also been arrested by ACE during the last six months on graft charges.

Separate crime incidents

In a separate incident in Gujranwala, a man allegedly killed his 45-year-old wife in Ismael Town within the limits of Tatley Aali police station on Wednesday in what was reported as an honour-related case. The suspect later surrendered to police.

Reports said the suspect, Amjad Hussain, suspected his wife Nighat Bibi of having loose morals and allegedly attacked her with a sharp-edged weapon at their home. Police and Punjab Forensic Science Agency teams visited the site and collected evidence, while Rescue 1122 shifted the body to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Nowshera Virkan. Police said the suspect had been arrested and the matter was under investigation.

Meanwhile, in Gujrat, a 21-year-old man was injured after two motorcyclists opened fire on him in Barsa village on Bhimbher Road. Reports said Muhammad Aadil was working in the fields when the assailants shot at him and escaped. He suffered bullet wounds to his leg and was taken to Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital. Police are investigating the shooting.