March 04, 2008	Tuesday	Safar 25, 1429

BAHAWALPUR, March 3: The Punjab government has suspended from service Tariq Mahmood, forests conservator and Lal Sohanra National Park administrator.

According to a notification issued by Punjab Forest Secretary Naveed Akram Cheema, Mahmood was suspended due to his alleged connivance in a large-scale damage to forests in Rahim Yar Khan Forest division amounting to Rs500 million.

The chief conservator of forests, southern zone, reported against the Bahawalpur conservator. The notification said the retention of Mr Mehmood as conservator of forests was not in public interests and as such he was suspended for 90 days.

Sheikh Muhammad Irshad, conservator of forests, DG Khan, has been given the additional charge of Bahawalpur zone.

Dawn learnt the former conservator had reportedly damaged forests in Rahim Yar Khan. On these complaints, the high-ups of the Forest Department sought his reports.

In his replies, as the action speaks, the authorities expressed their dissatisfaction and eventually placed him under suspension.

As the copy of the suspension notification has been issued to the chief minister’s inspection team and an inquiry against Mahmood may be conducted by the team.