In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, recommendations have been prepared to make scrutiny and interrogation of senior officers by the Anti-Corruption Establishment more difficult.

According to the proposed changes, the Anti-Corruption Establishment will be required to seek the opinion of the concerned department before taking any direct action against senior officers. A detailed procedure for inquiry and investigation of officers is also being formulated.

The provincial government has suggested involving multiple offices in the scrutiny process instead of keeping the Anti-Corruption system fully independent in such cases.

Sources said that currently, approval from the Chief Secretary is mandatory for the arrest of government officials in Grade 17 and above, initiation of inquiries against officers in Grade 19 and above, registration of cases against them, and submission of complete challans in cases involving officers above Grade 18.

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Officials further pointed out serious shortcomings in cases being forwarded to the Chief Secretary, stating that most case files are incomplete and disorganized. Complaints, FIRs, and legal opinions are often handwritten in Urdu and difficult to read, with no English translation provided.

Under the proposed protocol, a complete case profile will be prepared before submission to the Chief Secretary, including a summary of allegations, available evidence, role of the accused officer, and assessment of financial loss or public impact. It will also include justification for arrest, legal review by the Anti-Corruption legal wing or prosecutor, and administrative input from the concerned department.

A formal checklist has also been proposed for records sent to the Chief Secretary, requiring typed briefs, clear FIRs and complaints in both Urdu and English, inquiry reports, documentary evidence, justification for arrest, signed legal opinion, recommendations of the Director Anti-Corruption, and reasons for delay in proceedings.

The document emphasizes that these legal safeguards aim not only to protect officers from undue damage to their reputation and career but also to ensure institutional oversight in corruption investigations.