CHAKWAL, Oct 25: Show-cause notices have been issued to two officials of the Punjab Mines and Mineral Department for allegedly harassing the staff of a mine and demanding money from them.

The director-general, Punjab mines and mineral department has asked the assistant-director, mines department, Mohammad Hafeez and mineral development officer Sadaqat Ali Rafique to submit their explanation within seven days as there are serious allegations levelled against them in a written application by a local mine owner.

The chief executive of Dost Sons, Malik Manzoor Ahmad, has lodged an application before the DG mines and alleged that the two officials with the collaboration of a political figure have harassed the staff of his Dalwal mines and demanded from the mines’ in charge Malik Shaukat money, otherwise the complainant will be involved in irregularities case.

He further alleged that the two officials were conspiring to implicate him in another case of under-reporting of coal production and in this connection Sadaqat Ali Rafique had demanded Rs40,000.

The mine owner has sought an inquiry team of Lahore directorate should visit Dalwal Coal Mines immediately so that they could check the record of his mines.

When this correspondent contacted the assistant director, Muhammad Hafeez, for his comments, he rejected the allegations levelled against him and the MDO. He maintained that an application had been filed with the National Accountability Bureau against Malik Manzoor Ahmad wherein serious allegations were levelled against him.

The mineral department had directed them to investigate the matter.

“We visited the coal mines and found serious irregularities committed by Malik Manzoor Ahmad and sent our report to the Department.”