MUZAFFARGARH, Aug 16: The local government commission here on Thursday completed an inquiry into the July 18 annual budget session held by district nazim Sardar Qayyum Jatoi and asked both the opposition and treasury members to appear before it on Aug 25 in Lahore for further discussion.

DCO Dr Akhtar Nazir Warraich had sent a report to the Punjab local government department stating that the July 18 session of the district council lacked quorum and only 36 nazims were present. Consequently, the local government secretary sent a five-member commission on Aug 15 to probe the matter.

Sources told Dawn that 87 union nazims from the ruling PML appeared before the commission on Wednesday and said that their signatures on budget documents were forged.

According to the budget documents submitted by the district nazim, 70 nazims were present in the July 18 session.

The commission also met Jamshed Dasti, the convener from district nazim group, and gave him a letter to appear on Aug 25, but he did not receive it.

Mr Dasti told this correspondent that the DCO did not inform the district nazim regarding the letter which he had sent to the secretary.

When contacted DCO Dr Akhtar Nazir Warraich said he had also sent a copy of the letter to Mr Dasti.