PESHAWAR, Aug 27: The government has sent home a former commissioner of Malakand division on forced retirement for reportedly having connections with militants.

“Syed Mohammad Javed, a grade 21 officer from District Management Group, has been retired from civil service prematurely through a notification issued by the establishment division,” official sources told Dawn .

Mr Javed had been removed from the post of Malakand commissioner in April 2009 just days before military launched operation Rah-i-Rast in Swat against militants associated to Maulvi Fazalullah.

He was made officer on special duty (OSD) for having links with some militant commanders.

The government initiated an inquiry against the officer and it had recommended his immediate removal from service. On the basis of inquiry report, however, the prime minister, being the competent authority, had sent him on forced retirement before reaching the age of superannuation instead of dismissal, the sources added.

The premature retirement of a senior civil officer has appeared to be a major action against civil servants for reported links with militants so far.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had decided to take disciplinary action against over a hundred of low-ranking officials of different departments in Swat region for reportedly facilitating militants.

In line with a cabinet decision, the home and tribal affairs department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was assigned the task to investigate the cases and the respective district coordination officers (DCOs) were asked to proceed cases against officials, found guilty of charges.

Sources, however, said that proceedings against majority of those officials were still in progress despite the lapse of almost one and half year.

Meanwhile, the provincial government has ordered transfers and postings of several officers with immediate effect.

A notification issued by establishment and administration department (E&AD) said Fazle Rehmani was posted as chairman of Tanzim Lissail-i-Wal Mahroom, replacing Amjad Shahid Afridi, who was directed to report to the E&AD.

Similarly, Syed Raza Shah, associate professor of statistics, GPCS Charsadda has been transferred and posted as chief planning officer at higher education department. Israr Khan, deputy secretary II of higher education department has been posted as deputy secretary (Universities) at the same department. Zahoorul Haq has been posted as deputy secretary II at higher education department.

Moreover, Nasir Saleem, deputy secretary at higher education department has been directed to report to E&AD.