KARACHI, May 3: Kazim Ali, who held the position of chief fire officer until mid-January this year, has reportedly been sent on forced leave for three years and asked to surrender his official residence and car. However, Mr Kazim has denied the claim, saying that the three-year lien had been granted by City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal on his formal application.

The Online news agency, quoting city government sources, suggested on Thursday that Mr Kazim had been sent on forced leave as the city nazim was unhappy with him on certain happenings, including the death of some firemen in 2006.

The firemen died while trying to extinguish a big fire in the Site area.

According to the agency,

Mr Kazim had been suspended in November 2006 for that reason.

Following another fire that engulfed a garment factory in Site Area on January 15, 2007, Mr Kazim was reinstated temporarily to deal with the situation. Seven firefighters lost their lives in that incident.

The agency quoted the sources as saying that in February 2007, Mr Kazim was demoted and detailed at the Site Town Fire Station as station officer.

Denying the agency report, Mr Kazim told Dawn: ‘‘as per the conditions of the lien, I am on the muster roll of the fire department but not entitled to salary and other benefits.”