GUJRAT, Aug 27 The Punjab government transferred on Thursday Deputy District Officer-Revenue (DDO-R) Manzoor Husain Nasir and made him an officer on special duty (OSD). A Pakistan Muslim League-N MPA is believed to be behind the move, who was annoyed with the officer for not releasing two shopkeepers arrested under the Price Control Act.

The confrontation started between the officer and the MPA a week ago when Mr Nasir arrested Zaheer Ahmed, a general store proprietor, and Tariq Mehmood, restaurant owner on Jail Road, for not displaying rate lists. Sources said the MPA tried to prevail upon the DDOR to release both the men but the officer refused to do so.

Sources said that on Aug 17, at a meeting at the DCO office, Mr Nasir and the MPA exchanged hot words over the issue. The MPA alleged the DDOR was harassing small traders by arresting them and the administration should avoid these kinds of steps to control the price hike in Ramazan. Mr Nasir also stood up and said that he had utilised his powers according to the law and the MPA had better stop interfering in administrative issues.

Earlier, during his tenure as DDOR in Kharian, Mr Nasir invited the wrath of patwaris after he suspended two patwaris for corruption in the sasti roti scheme. Patwaris of the entire district protested against Mr Nasir and observed strike. He was removed from the office of Kharian DDO-R soon after the imposition of governor's rule in Punjab. When governor's rule was lifted, he was given promotion and posted as DDO-R in Gujrat.

His transfer will create rifts in the PML-N as the DDO-R has his supporters in the ruling party who will also try to get back the “strict officer”.