SAHIWAL: “Asalam-o-Alykum, your desired number is not in anyone’s use. You are requested to contact 1217,” was the reply when provincial minister Malik Nadeem Kamran dialed Chichawtani DSP Office number displayed in a school as an emergency measure on Thursday.

Punjab Zakat and Ushr Minister Mr Kamran was on a visit to the Government Crescent Girls College, Chichawatni, to check security measures, where the number of the DSP concerned was prominently displayed, along with others, to be dialed in case of terrorism threat.

The police as well as the college administration had to face embarrassment when the minister dialed the number to check the effectiveness of the arrangement.

The minster was accompanied by PML-N local leader Tufail Jutt, District Police Officer Syed Khurram Ali and Chichawatni DSP Farrukh Javed, Director Colleges Abdul Majeed, EDO (education) and others.

On further inquiry, it transpired the land-line phone connection of the DSP’s office had been cut because of non-payment of dues.

Another funny situation emerged during the minister’s visit to the Government College for Boys, Chichawatni, where assistant commissioner’s cell number was written incorrect.

The minister visited the government colleges and a high school. He directed the building department officials to accomplish construction work at educational institutions soon.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2015

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