September 14, 2008	Sunday	Ramazan 13, 1429

MANSEHRA, Sept 13: Rejecting the provincial government’s posting and transfer orders in the education department, the district nazim has told the executive district officer (EDO) not to obey the education minister’s orders, Dawn has learnt.

Following the imposition of ban on postings and transfers in the education department by the provincial government, a tug of war had been started between District Nazim Sardar Mohammad Yousaf and Education Minister Sardar Babak Khan, who is backed by three other provincial ministers.

Despite the recent relaxation of ban by the education minister, the nazim rejected directives and ordered the EDO (education) not to obey the minister’s orders.

According to sources, the EDO exchanged hot words with the nazim the other day when the later taunted him during a meeting.

The four ministers from Mansehra and Kala Dhaka -- Industry Minister Ahmad Hussain Shah, Food Minister Shujah Salim Khan, Revenue Minister Habibur Rehman Tanoli and Minister Haj Nimroz Khan -- had got relaxation to post and transfer about 200 male and female teachers in the education department. But the district nazim asked the EDO to withheld posting and transfer orders.

The posting and transfer orders are still pending due to the tug-of-war between the district nazim and the ministers and the EDO has become a rolling stone between them, the sources added.

EDO Shah Jee told this scribe that he had sought the help of legal experts and then he would decide the future line of action either to obey the directives of the district or provincial government.

The EDO said that he was working hard to get assistance from domestic and international donors as well as the government to rebuild the education facilities in the earthquake-hit areas of district.

Out of 300,000 students in the district, half of them were still getting education in tents and shelters in miserable conditions. “But due to the ongoing war between the nazim and ministers, I am very much scared about the completion of the projects in time,” he added.