April 14, 2008	Monday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1429

MUZAFFARGARH, April 13: Working at the offices of district coordination officer (DCO) and executive district officers (EDOs) has virtually come to a halt in the wake of a large-scale administrative transfers and postings throughout the province after the installation of the new provincial government.

Panicked rather frightened by their likely transfers, almost all high-ranking officers, prominently the EDOs, are now running from pillar to post to secure their present slots.

On Friday and Saturday, the DCO and EDOs of revenue, health and education, agriculture district officer (DO) and executive engineer of the roads department skived their offices and, according to sources, they went to meet new political lords, including the PPP MNAs and MPAs, to win their hearts and minds to help them retain their slots.

All the district administration had worked in favour of PML-Q candidates during the Feb 18 electioneering but ignored the PPP and the PML-N candidates.

Dawn has learnt that the officers were also contacting chief secretary and the PML-N and the PPP leadership in this connection.

An official requesting anonymity told Dawn that ‘higher authorities’ kept them in deception by assuring them that the PML-Q alone would form the next government after the Feb 18 general elections, so they blindly worked for the PML-Q.

PPP MPA Irshad Sial confirmed that health and education EDOs and agriculture DO, Jamshed Sindhu, had met him to seek apology for their ‘deeds’ during the previous regime besides requesting him to help them ensure their stay in the district.Education EDO Sultan Bhagiala said that it was true that they served the previous government, but now they were servants of the PPP and the PML-N coalition government and ready to do the needful as per official requirements.

DCO Dr Akhtar Nazir Warraich said that he had gone to attend an official meeting at the Civil Secretariat in

Lahore.

When Dawn tried to contact the health and revenue EDOs and agriculture DO, their cell phones were found switched off.