MULTAN: Anti-Corruption Establishment Director General Ijaz Hussain Shah says Prime Minster Imran Khan has tasked the ACE with taking action against bureaucrats and politicians involved in mega corruption cases.

Talking to media here on Monday, the DG said during a meeting with the ACE officials a couple of days ago the prime minister tasked the department with acting against the big fish and `I am visiting the regional of fices in this regard.

`Yesterday (Saturday) I was in Faisalabad and af ter completing my visit to Multan I will go to Dera Ghazi Khan,` he said.

Mr Shah said he had briefed the premierabout the performance of the department besides informing him about future targets.

`The prime minister had extended his support to the department and said there is no need to be fearful while taking action against the big fish,` he said.

The DG said only 800 cases since 2006 had been registered by the ACE against the government officers from grade 17 to 21 which is 10 per cent of the total number of cases. `The probe against the officers from grade 17 and above is under way and the process will further be accelerated.

He said he had informed the prime minister that there is a need to do away with the the shortage of investigation officers particularly assistant directors and deputy directors to improve the performance of the department and the premier directedabout the performance of the department besides informing him about future targets.

`The prime minister had extended his support to the department and said there is no need to be fearful while taking action against the big fish,` he said.

The DG said only 800 cases since 2006 had been registered by the ACE against the government officers from grade 17 to 21 which is 10 per cent of the total number of cases. `The probe against the officers from grade 17 and above is under way and the process will further be accelerated.

He said he had informed the prime minister that there is a need to do away with the the shortage of investigation officers particularly assistant directors and deputy directors to improve the performance of the department and the premier directedto take steps to fill the vacant posts.

He claimed that during the ongoing year the ACE made the direct and indirect recovery of Rs60 billion. `Selfaccountability is an important component to eradicate corruption from the government departments and 76 cases have been lodged against the employees of the ACE while a number of inquiries are also under way.

Shah said owing to poor investigation, the conviction rate is very low and being DG increasing the conviction rate is his top priority.

`Since the establishment of ACE the conviction rate is only 2pc. I have decided to overhaul the department as a professional organisation and in this regard we are going to arrange training of the ACE staff with the help of NationalAccountability Bureau and police department. Earlier the entire probe was being conducted by an investigator but now there will be a joint investigation team including the IO from police department, a representative of prosecution wing and expert from the relevant department,` he said.

Director ACE Multan Region Amjad Shoaib Tareen in his briefing stated that total complaints received by the department during the ongoing year were 315 out of which 80 were converted into inquiries, 122 were sent to the respective departments while 109 were filed.

He stated the department had submitted challans in 39 cases [to courts], arrested 87 accused, direct recovery in term of cash was Rs5.36 million, recovery in term of land amounted to Rs5.85bn and the compromised recovery was Rs6.44m.