GUJRAT: The Punjab government on Thursday posted regular deputy commissioners for Gujranwala and Jhelum districts, relieving the additional deputy commissioners (revenue) of the respective districts from the additional charge.

Earlier, the government had transferred Gujranwala DC Shoaib Tariq Warraich and Jhelum DC Muhammad Suhail Khwaja on the alleged political interference around a week ago. The Gujranwala DC had declined to relinquish the charge after getting support from a local PTI lawmaker whereas the Jhelum DC did not relinquish the charge until Tuesday last when ADC (Revenue) Khalid Tippu assumed the charge as an acting DC after eight days.

According to the fresh notification issued by the Services and General Administration Department, Manzoor Hussain Nasir, currently working as director general public libraries Punjab, Lahore has been posted as Gujranwala DC, relieving Ms Kanwal Batool, the additional deputy commissioner revenue, from the additional charge. She did not take charge as an acting DC since Mr Warraich did not relinquish the charge.

Similarly, Muhammad Saif Anwar Jappa, serving as director general Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Rawalpindi, has been posted as Jhelum DC with immediate effect, relieving ADC (Revenue) Khalid Tippu of the additional charge.

The newly posted DCs of Gujranwala and Jhelum have been directed to assume the charge forthwith.

The Gujranwala DC had allegedly been removed for ordering demolition of the petrol pump of an influential figure whereas the Jhelum DC’s transfer also took place on some political pressure. An official source claimed that Mr Khawaja had been removed for facing an inquiry in the Anti-Corruption Establishment regarding the land acquisition for the Lahore Ring Road Authority where he remained posted for more than three years.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2018