MANSEHRA, March 18: The transfer of the district education officer was challenged in a local court on Monday.

Mohammad Asghar filed a petition with the senior civil judge of Mansehra on behalf of local residents seeking orders for the cancellation of the recent transfer of EDO Sahibzada Hameed Mehmood by the elementary and secondary education department.

“The transfer not only violate the Election Commission orders but is also an attempt by a local lawmaker to appoint his men to 83 vacant posts in the education department though the newly-posted education officer,” the petitioner said.

On March 13, Mr Mehmood was replaced by Mohammad Farid Khan.

Mr Asghar told reporters that he had pleaded the court to stay the transfer of an ‘honest’ officer.

He alleged that a local MPA wanted to get his men appointed to the vacant education department posts through the DEO.

The petitioner claimed that Mr Mehmood, who had shortlisted candidates for the said posts after tests and interviews, was transferred after he refused to accommodate the lawmaker’s demand.

He said the former DEO had taken action against absent teachers and ghost schools in the district to the anger of the MPA, who got him transferred.

Also in the day, Senior Superintendent of Police, Mansehra Sher Akbar Khan claimed that the girl kidnapped in the district the other day would be recovered within two days.

He told reporters in his office that police had arrested four of the six people charged in the FIR with kidnapping the girl.

“We are hopeful that the girl will be recovered within next 48 hours,” he said.

The SSP said nobody was above the law and would deal with kidnappers strictly under the law.

He claimed that the incidence of crime had dropped in the district during the last six months and the people would soon see the difference.