SHEIKHUPURA, Dec 3: Chief Justice Iftikhar Husain Chaudhry of the Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab advocate-general to contact the chief secretary immediately for the transfer of district coordinator officer (DCO).

The CJ said it was observed that DCO Tariq Najib Najmi was interfering in the affairs of the district government in an unlawful manner. His conduct was not of a government servant, who was required to act as coordination officer between different functionaries and departments of the district government, the verdict said.

The chief justice had given the order on a writ petition of Arbab & Co owner Altaf Husain through Shahzad Shaukat. The petitioner submitted that his firm had given the highest auction bid openly. DCO Najmi, using his power unlawfully, rejected his auction and awarded the contract to another bidder whose bid was lower than his firm.