MULTAN: Two assistant commissioners of the Khanewal district, who were suspended on farmers’ complaints for allegedly committing irregularities in the distribution of gunny bags, were reinstated within 24 hours of their suspension on Thursday.

Reports said that Kabirwala AC Muhammad Akbar and Khanewal AC Abid Bhatti had been suspended on Wednesday under Section 6 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act 2006.

“I only heard about my suspension and did not receive any order, but today I have received calls from the offices of Multan Commissioner and the DCO to resume my duties,” the Kabirwala AC told Dawn.

Sources said the DCO’s lack of interest allowed the lower staff to deal people on their own terms.

They said the DCO had directed the staff not to displease parliamentarians and gunny bags should be distributed on their recommendations.

Pakistan Kissan Ittehad chairman Chaudhry Anwar said he complained about the Kabirwala AC during negotiations with the government when he was leading farmers’ protest in Lahore a few days back.

He said the chief minister had ordered the suspension of the AC on the recommendation of Rana Sanaullah.

Mr Anwar said he was not aware of the reason behind the suspension of the Khanewal AC as he lodged no complaint against him.

“The AC might be suspended on the information provided by the special branch,” he said.

He said the supply of gunny bags to farmers had been suspended for two days across the province.

“We have informed the chief minister that the gunny bags were only given on the phone calls or chits of MNAs and MPAs while the middlemen are also ‘accommodated’,” he said.

DCO Shaikh Khalid Mehmood was unavailable for comments while Kabirwala AC Mr Akbar claimed that the gunny bags were issued only to farmers.

“We cannot give gunny bags more than the allocated target fixed by the government,” he said.

He claimed that farmers and not the administration handed over their gunny bags to the middlemen.

Khanewal AC Abid Bhatti said he was suspended due to misunderstanding as the complaint was against another AC.

“I have been reinstated after the misunderstanding is cleared,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2016