RAWALPINDI, Feb 16: A division bench of Lahore High Court here on Monday summoned a former executive district officer (revenue) of Attock after allegations that irregularities had been committed in appointment of patwaris in the district in the year 2003.

Taking up the appeal of an unsuccessful candidate against an earlier decision of the court, Justices Abdul Shakoor Paracha and Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah summoned the official to explain why more appointments were made than advertised in the press and how the appointments were made on the dates other than mentioned in the advertisements. The court will again hear the case on March 17.

Syed Kamran Ali Shah through his counsel Chaudhry Afrasaib Khan maintained that the revenue department advertised 10 posts of patwaris in 2003 but appointed 23 without receiving proper applications.

He said many of the candidates had less qualification than he had but they were awarded more marks in the written test and interview. He claimed that the district and sessions judge Attock in his capacity as director human rights had observed that there were discrepancies in the appointments but he could not undo the action of the district government as he lacked jurisdiction.

The LHC in its earlier order in 2006 had dismissed the petition of Mr Shah, saying no wrong had been done to him as he could not qualify for the post.