PESHAWAR, April 8: A controversy between the provincial government and the Peshawar Town-III administration over the posting of a town municipal officer (TMO) took a new turn on Thursday when the concerned nazim, Yaseen Khalil, challenged the government's decision before the Peshawar High Court.

Mr Khalil filed the petition, requesting the court to declare illegal the government's April 1 orders through which the then TMO, Umer Sohail, was transferred and replaced with Malik Ijaz. The nazim claimed that the town administration was not consulted before the posting and transfer orders were issued.

The new TMO has not been given charge as the town administration believes that he cannot run the affairs of the town properly. The respondents in the petition are the government of the NWFP through the local government secretary, the provincial chief secretary and TMO Malik Ijaz. The petitioner pointed out that Mr Ijaz had earlier served on the same post but his performance was not satisfactory.