RAWALPINDI, Aug 24: The bureaucratic set-up at the level of division is set to return in Rawalpindi as the Punjab government on Sunday announced to restore the posts of divisional commissioners in its eight divisions.

The revival of commissionerate system is believed to be an indication that the Punjab government would soon wind up the local government system, which came into being in 2001.

The commissionerate system would allow the provincial government to have the direct control over the administration at district level.

The Punjab government led by Shahbaz Sharif has not been comfortable with the district nazims who mostly belong to the opposition Pakistan Muslim League (PML), and interaction between the provincial government and district governments are extremely poor and there are no face-to-face meetings between the PML-N ministers and MPAs with the district nazims.

In the case of District Nazim Rawalpindi Raja Javed Ikhlas, he abstained from every meeting chaired by PML-N’s provincial ministers at the Punjab House in Rawalpindi. Similarly, he was never seen in any of the meetings attended by PML-N parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.

The Punjab government has already carried out audits of the accounts of the district governments, and the provincial government claims that the audit reports found irregularities in the operation of district governments.

Mr Ikhlas, when contacted, told Dawn that there was no provision in the local government plan 2000 for the post of a commissioner.

There is no role of a commissioner in the affairs of district government and the Punjab government’s decision is basically a step to revert to the old system, he said. It’s better Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif wind up the local government system in the province, said Mr Ikhlas, who was not seen in the driving seat after the results of elections held in February.

The role of district nazim is mostly being played by the District Coordination Officer (DCO) appointed by the provincial government.

It is not yet clear what role a commissioner would play in the existing system wherein the district nazim and district coordination officer run the affairs in a district.

Mr Ikhlas fears the commissioner would by-pass the district government system.

The restoration of divisional commissioners in all the eight divisions of the province is a major decision taken by the chief minister, which indicates there would be no threat to the reign of Sharifs in Punjab in the wake of ongoing major political developments and possible break-up of the coalition between the PPP and PML-N.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is taking much interest in the affairs of the City District Government Rawalpindi and it is obvious that the new commissioner of Rawalpindi would have the blessings of Mr Khan.