GUJRAT: Additional Deputy Commissioner (revenue) Khalid Mahmood Tippu assumed the charge of Jhelum deputy commissioner after Muhammad Suhail Khwaja was transferred (as Jhelum DC) on political grounds as some serious issues had cropped up between him and an influential PTI lawmaker from the district.

Mr Khwaja, an officer of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) in BS 19, was posted as the Jhelum DC some three weeks ago but the Punjab government transferred him on Nov 12.

ADC Tippu was notified as DC on additional charge basis in the same (Nov 12) notification but he could not assume the charge forthwith as Mr Khwaja had not officially relinquished the charge.

Sources said that the Punjab government asked Mr Tippu on Tuesday to assume the charge as administrative work in the district had been affected. Reliable sources said the transfer had been made on the intervention of a PTI MNA who wanted some favour in a land revenue case. Another source said the outgoing officer was involved in a corruption case.

Earlier, Akif Javed, Assistant Director of Land Record (ADLR), Dina tehsil, was transferred by the Punjab Land Record Authority (PLRA) a week ago at the alleged behest of the same MNA after the official expressed his inability in extending him favour in a computerised land record case.

The PLRA was asked to suspend the ADLR for not obliging the lawmaker but he was just transferred.

Sources said the PTI lawmakers wanted Mr. Tippu to be posted on a regular basis as the Jhelum DC instead of the additional charge.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2018