MULTAN: The provincial government on Wednesday withdrewn the nomination of chairman of the Multan Development Authority (MDA) Board of Directors two weeks after an exchange of harsh words with the deputy commissioner.

The MDA director general (DG) has also been transferred and DC Aamer Khattak entrusted with the additional charge of the post.

According to a notification issued by Housing Secretary Nasim Sadiq, the chief minister has withdrawn the nomination of Rana Jabbar as MDA chairman. No justification to remove Mr Jabbar was mentioned in the notification.

On Oct 3, Jabbar and Khattak had an argument during a conference on Bahauddin Zakariya when the DC asked the chairman to vacate his seat, which Jabbar refused. The DC then called in the senior superintendent of police who got the seat vacated forcefully and Jabbar left the ceremony in protest.

Jabbar was also the PTI candidate for PP-217 but scarified his candidature in favour of Shah Mehmood Qureshi. He was also among the six chairmen of various development authorities of Punjab whose appointments were suspended by the Lahore High Court in January after an overseas Pakistani had challenged their appointments purportedly on political grounds through a writ petition; however all chairmen were later re-notified.

Talking to this correspondent, Jabbar alleged that MDA Vice Chairman Mumtaz Qureshi and his supporters were behind his removal for being an obstacle in running the affairs of the authority his way, adding that Qureshi also had close ties with the brother of an important government personality.

Jabbar further said that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who had helped him get appointed to the MDA, had not been consulted before removing him. “Despite Mumtaz Qureshi facing serious allegations of corruption, he was made the board member and vice chairman and will now exercise the powers of a chairman,” he alleged.

He further said that some administration officers, political figures and a mafia were behind his removal. “DG Tanveer Iqbal was also opposing the undue interference of Qureshi, so he has also been transferred and made an officer on special duty,” he added.

On the recommendations of provincial minister Dr Akhtar Malik to the chief minister, former DG Mumtaz Qureshi had been made a member of the board and subsequently vice chairman of the authority on July 15.

MDA DG Malik Tanveer Iqbal, in a letter to the secretary concerned on July 27, had stated that after appointment Qureshi had asked for emoluments, telephone facility (one each for his office and residence), transport, TA/DA, medical reimbursement and other allowances.

“Since there is no provision in the Punjab Development of Cities Act 1976 for providing facilities, therefore this office may please be guided under what terms and conditions/rules these facilities as desired by Mr Qureshi can be provided,” Iqbal’s letter concluded.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2019