LAHORE, Oct 25: The Lahore High Court chief justice sought on Tuesday a reply from the Punjab government on a writ petition challenging appointment of Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) Ahad Cheema.

The chief justice directed an additional advocate general to ensure the submission of the reply in two weeks.

Petitioner Advocate Azhar Siddique stated Mr Cheema, a grade-18 officer, had been posted on a grade-20 office in violation of section 26 of the Local Government Ordinance, 2001.

Prior to grabbing the premier post, the petitioner said, Mr Cheema was a grade-17 officer but he managed to be appointed education secretary, a post of grade-20. The petitioner said the respondent being the education secretary had introduced an online examination system that did not work.

Mr Siddique said the DCO also failed to take prompt action to curb the outbreak of dengue virus in the city and his negligence caused hundreds of deaths.

He prayed to the court to set aside the appointment of Cheema as DCO and order action against him. banners issue:

The Punjab Union of Journalist (PUJ) president has moved the Lahore High Court seeking removal of banners and billboards of political parties from city roads.

PUJ President Rana Azeem filed a petition asking the court to order the removal of banners and billboards of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) and the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) for hoisting their flags and banners on The Mall and other city roads.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, PTI chief Imran Khan and Babar Awan have been made parties in the petition.

The petitioner submitted the PML-N, the PPP and the PTI had hoisted their banners on The Mall where the Punjab government had banned rallies.

He said the PML-N and the PTI had installed their banners regarding their rallies to be held on Oct 28 and 30. He said banners attributed to PPP leader Babar Awan could also be seen on The Mall.

The petitioner said all the three respondent parties had not paid dues to the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) for installing the banners on roads. He said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, also the PHA chairman, abused his powers by not paying dues to the authority.

The petitioner requested the court that the respondents be directed to pay double dues to the PHA and order the government to use the collection for control of dengue epidemic. He also sought directions for removal of banners and ban on the rallies and processions.