LAHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday sought removal of the Lahore Division Cattle Market Management Company (LDCMMC) managing director, directing the top officials concerned to release orders for his termination of services with immediate effect.

No one, including the Lahore commissioner, was available to explain the reasons behind the decision to remove Dr Ahtashamur Rehman from the headship of the company. Sources, however, said that two powerful Lahore-based MPAs of the ruling party had been after him for the last some months after the company administration refused to favour them.

“The MD has been in trouble for the last few months after he refused to award various cattle market’s contracts to the people of the MPA without completing tendering/bidding and other legal procedures and formalities,” a senior officer said. “The MPA finally took up the matter with the chief minister.”

The official said the decision to dismiss the LDCMMC chief was taken in a meeting of the divisional MPAs, presided over by the chief minister, on Wednesday. During the meeting, the CM directed the authorities concerned to immediately release order for Dr Haq’s termination of services. Some officials tried to explain the chief minister about the situation but in vain. The official said another MPA of the ruling party was also annoyed with the MD due to the removal of a cattle market on Multan Road, near the Shahpur Kanjran market, established by the government.

“Actually, the brother of the MPA was allegedly involved in establishing the illegal cattle market near Shahpur Kanjran market. The LDCMMC management removed this which invited ire of the MPA,” the official added.

The company was incorporated five years ago under section 42 of Companies Ordinance of 1984, and its core objectives were to establish, organise, manage, operate and regulate cattle markets of Lahore division. The company, among all other divisional cattle market companies, is considered to be a self-sustainable one, as the government is providing no funds to its operations across Lahore division.

“It is the only sustainable company cleared by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). It is being run with its self-generated revenues,” said another official. He said under rules and regulations, the chief minister cannot direct removal of the company chief, as there are certain formalities that are required to complete before doing so.

“The company is registered with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan. It has its own board of directors (BoD), which is empowered to take such decision with some logical reasons,” he maintained. He said if the government desired to do so, it would have to write to the company’s BoD and the board is to take a final decision.

He said in the light of the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and direction of NAB not to follow any sort of unlawful orders from any one. “So it is a right time for NAB as well as the apex court to take notice of this situation, as the competent and brilliant officers are really disappointed due to the prevailing situation,” he said.

When contacted, the secretary to chief minister expressed ignorance to the decision regarding the removal of the MD.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019