KARACHI, Jan 15: Provincial Advisor to Chief Minister on Local Government, Waseem Akhtar, has termed illegal the orders issued by the city Nazim on Jan 14th regarding transfers and postings in the water board.

Mr Akhtar, in a statement on Thursday, said the orders were in violation of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 and the Sindh government had declared them null and void. "Therefore the officials who were transferred will continue to perform their duties in their existing positions," he added.

Quoting Section 196 of SLGO-2001, which repealed SLGO 1979, he said that all rules and regulations framed under SLGO 1979 were repealed. He said the powers of transfer and postings under the defunct rules and ordinance stood repealed in view of Section 30 sub-section 2 of SLGO-2001, which says: "The government shall appoint all officers and officials to the district offices, groups of offices or other offices in the district specified in the first schedule".

"In view of the clear authority with the government for appointment which includes appointment by promotion, appointment by transfer and fresh appointments i.e with the government. However the government of Sindh vide notification No SORI (S&GAD) 2-7/2001 dated 26.10.2002 is pleased to delegate the powers to DCO/Nazim up to grade- 17." Thus, Mr Wasim said, the orders issued by the Nazim wit particular reference to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board were illegal and unauthorised.