SC suspends ACE rules for case registration against senior officers
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LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) suspended Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) rules under which chief minister's approval was required for registration of cases against senior officials.
A two-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, passed the orders while hearing a petition, filed by the ACE Punjab director general.
During the proceedings, Advocate Zafar Iqbal Kalanauri, on behalf of the director general, submitted that as per
anti-corruption rules, it was mandatory to seek the approval of the chief minister before registration of a case against
any senior officials involved in corruption. No case can be registered if the chief minister did not grant permission
for the purpose, he added.
At this, the bench suspended the relevant sub sections of rules 5, 6 and 10 of the anti-corruption rules, under which the CM approval was required. The bench observed that it was unconstitutional to seek permission from the CM in
corruption cases.
The bench also ordered the Lahore High Court to decide two pending petitions regarding anti-corruption inquiries
within two weeks.
APP
