December 10, 2007	Monday	Ziqa'ad 29, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: Despite a ban imposed by the Election Commission, postings and transfers of government officials, especially senior police officers, have been made in different districts across the country since Nov 20.

Sources in government departments said that just before the announcement of the election schedule on Nov 20, postings and transfers had also been made on a large scale.

Those who have been transferred in violation of the EC directive include a district and sessions judge, an additional sessions judge, district police officers, district coordination officers, a superintendent of police, ASPs, DSPs, district revenue officers and SHOs.

When contacted, Election Commission secretary Kanwar Dilshad said the commission and returning officers concerned had sent notices to officers whose subordinates had been transferred. He said the commission was examining the cases of postings and transfers and would taken action against violators.

The Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN), a grouping of non-governmental organisations, in its recent report had also pointed out that a number of officials had been transferred after Nov 20.

According to the report, Khalid Hussain Shahani, an additional sessions judge of Kashmore (NA-210), was transferred on Nov 22; Mehr Arif Sial, a district and sessions judge of Multan, on Nov 21; Ghulam Abbas and Osman Waraich, executive district officers of Faisalabad (NA-83), on Nov 24; Rana Umar Daraz, a police officer of Faisalabad (NA-76), on Nov 30; Nawaz Sarwar, a sub-inspector of police in Gujranwala (NA-101), on Nov 20; Ramzan Kamboh of the police department in Gujranwala (NA-96) on Nov 20; Mohammad Nawaz Sial of the police department in Gujranwala (NA-97) on Nov 20; Imran Arshad, a superintendent of police (investigation) in Kasur, on Nov 20; Mohammad Ashraf, an SHO of Lahore (NA-130), on Nov 20; Saeed Akhtar Aansari, the DCO of Lahore (NA-128), on Nov 20; Mohammad Qayyum, a revenue officer of Lahore, on Nov 20; Khizar Hayat of the police department in Mianwali (NA-72) on Nov 25; and Mumtaz Baloch and Shamsher Ali of the police department in Mianwali on Nov 25.

Chaudhry Mohammad Ashraf, Muteeullah Niazi, Munawar Buzdar and Rehan Rasul of the police department in Muzaffargarh (NA-180) were transferred on Nov 30; Qamaru Zaman, an SHO of a police station in Muzaffargarh (NA-179), on Nov 30; Mrs Nasim Mansoor, executive district officer (education) in Pak Pattan (NA-165), on Nov 21; Kashif Riaz, an SHO of Rawalpindi (NA-56), on Nov 22; Sadullah Khitran, the DPO of Bolan (NA-267), on Nov 26; Mohammad Ali, a DSP of Gawadar (NA-272), on Nov 23; Abdul Wahid Baloch, an SHO of Gwadar (NA-272), on Nov 23; Asmatullah Khattak, Inayat Ali Shah and Akbar Nasir of the police department in Dera Ismail Khan (NA-24) on Nov 27; Mohammad Atif, the DCO of Haripur (NA-19), on Nov 28; Mumtaz Khan, a DSP of Nowshera (NA-6), on Nov 20; Banaras Khan, an SHO of Peshawar (NA-2), on Nov 23; Noor Zameen Khan, an SHO of Peshawar (NA-2), on Nov 24; Fazle Maula, an SHO of Peshawar (NA-2), on Nov 25; Raza Mohammad, an SHO of Peshawar, on Nov 25; Akhtar Hayat Gandapur of the police department in Tank (NA-25) on Nov 21; Ejaz Memon, an EDO with additional charge of the DCO in Jacobabad (NA-208), on Nov 26; Mr Saeed, an SHO of Khairpur (NA-217), on Nov 20; Mr Akbar of the police department in Khairpur (NA-217) on Nov 20; and Syed Jaindal Shah of the police department in Matiari on Nov 21.