MULTAN: The Punjab government has entrusted the additional charge of the Parks and Horticulture Authority director general to the deputy commissioner who is already heading three important institutions of the city.

On Oct 25, the government transferred PHA DG Muhammad Zahid Ikram and entrusted the additional charge to Deputy Commissioner Aamer Khattak who already is working as the district council administrator and the Multan Development Authority director general.

Mr Khattak took charge of the district council administrator in May last following the promulgation of the Punjab Local Government Act 2019.

The provincial government had earlier on Oct 16 withdrawn the nomination of MDA Board of Directors chairman Rana Abdul Jabbar after an exchange of harsh words with Mr Khattak.

Gets post of director of Parks and Horticulture Authority

The same day MDA DG Tanveer Iqbal was also transferred and Mr Khattak was entrusted with the additional charge of the post.

Now deputy chairman Mumtaz Qureshi is working as the MDA acting chairman.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a meeting with Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in Lahore on Oct 21 to discuss various issues of the city and, according to sources, he expressed his displeasure over the removal of Mr Jabbar.

The sources said the foreign minister also complained against a deputy secretary who was allegedly influencing transfers and postings in the district.

They said Mr Qureshi also expressed his concern over political interference in transfers and postings.

They said the removal of Mr Jabbar was part of plan to give the affairs of the authority in the hands of Mumtaz Qureshi who felt himself ineffective in the presence of Mr Jabbar.

They said that due to burden of work, Mr Khattak had delegated some of his powers as deputy commissioner to the additional deputy commissioner revenue who himself is on leave for the last two weeks.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2019