NAWABSHAH, May 3: The raging row between District Nazim Faryal Talpur and DCO Ahmed Bux Khokhar triggered by the removal of EDO finance and planning on April 25 ground to a halt the functions of district government with the offices wearing a deserted look on Thursday.

The district nazim, DCO as well as the EDO of finance and planning (F&P) remained absent from their offices adding to the troubles of people coming from various parts of the district for their routine works.

Work on the preparation of budget for the year 2007-08 may also be affected as the district nazim and the DCO were neither on talking terms nor ready to sit with each other.

The row was triggered after the DCO got the transfer orders of EDO F&P cancelled whom the district nazim had relieved on the directives of Sindh government last week.

Sources said that Sindh chief secretary intervened into the dispute and urged the nazim and the DCO to resolve their differences but the nazim refused to sit with the DCO.

She accused the DCO of misbehaviour, misconduct and financial and administrative mismanagement and asked the Sindh government under powers vested in her under section 30(4) of SLGO to transfer him.

She has also written a letter to the Sindh Local Government Commission to hold an enquiry against the DCO on charges of financial mismanagement. She mentions in the letter that the DCO has not made proper fund releases during the financial year of 2006-07 and has also not processed the schemes and other development works properly including ADP schemes, DERA programme, zakat funds, Baitul Maal, Women Crises Centre, sugar cess schemes, release of maintenance and repair works funds, octroi and zila tax funds.

The DCO denied the allegations levelled against him and said that he was just following the policies of Sindh government. The financial year was approaching its end but the current year’s budget remained to utilised properly due to the row.

Majority of union council nazims belonging to PPP-backed Awam Dost Panel (ADP) had been protesting against the DCO outside the local press club since eight days demanding his immediate transfer. Nawabshah is the native town of Asif Ali Zardari, spouse of former premier Benazir Bhutto and a stronghold of People’s Party. The ADP grabbed the seat of district nazim as well as majority of UC nazims in local bodies elections in 2001 followed by success on five seats of MPAs and both the seats of MNAs in general elections of 2002.

The ADP was again successful in grabbing majority of seats in local body elections of 2005 re-electing Ms Faryal Talpur to the office of district nazim for the second consecutive term.

Three of four taluka councils of the district - Sakrand, Daur and Nawabshah - have passed a resolution against the DCO demanding that the Sindh government should transfer him immediately.