GUJRAT: The row between two functionaries of the health department over the office of the Gujrat executive district officer health intensified on Tuesday when Dr Ijaz Haider, who claimed to have a stay order against his transfer, ‘stormed’ the main office at the District Government Complex by breaking the door glass.

The Punjab government had posted Dr Tahir Basheer as Gujrat EDO by transferring Dr Ijaz on Dec 1 and he assumed the charge. Two days later, Dr Ijaz who did not relinquish the charge got a stay order from the services tribunal Lahore against his transfer and had a dispute with the new incumbent.

District Coordination Officer Liaquat Ali Chattha sent both Dr Tahir and Dr Ijaz on forced leave for 15 days for “violating discipline and spoiling working environment”.

On Tuesday, Dr Tahir remained present in the main EDO office and performed his official duty as delegations of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and allied health workers called on him. When Dr Tahir left his office to attend a video conference being held at the DCO office, Dr Ijaz along with some of his subordinates came there and entered the room after breaking the glass door and stayed there till evening.

Additional District Collector Irfan Ali Kathia is probing the allegations of corruption and misconduct against Dr Ijaz whom a previous such inquiry by a three-member committee headed by Mr Kathia had declared guilty.

Meanwhile, in a written application submitted to the DCO, Dr Tahir alleged that Dr Ijaz hurled life threats at him after which the DCO ordered registration of a case against Dr Ijaz by sending an application to the Civil Lines police.

The district government has sent another recommendation to police for registration of another case against Dr Ijaz for damaging public property and on other charges.

Gujrat PMA President Dr Maqsood Zahid, along with other officials, tried to defuse the tension and its officials also met the DCO and apprised him of their efforts to steer the local health department out of crisis as the subordinate staff is facing difficulties in execution of orders.

The DCOs of Toba Tek Singh and Chiniot under whom Dr Ijaz had previously served also declared him unfit for any such posting. The provincial health department overlooked such observations against Dr Ijaz while posting him as Gujrat EDO on the search committee’s recommendation.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2015