KHANEWAL, Nov 11: The tehsil municipal officer’s slot in Khanewal has become a bone of contention between two officials who continue to alternate each other, thanks to the political brawn displayed by two PPP legislators backing them.
Each of the parliamentarians is leaving no stone unturned to bring the man of his choice to the Khanewal TMO office by exercising his influence for the last five months.
Dawn gleaned information that Pir Jamil Shah, a PPP MPA from PP-218, got transferred TMO Syed Raza Mehdi Baqri in May 2008 and brought in his place Syed Ali Hassan Jafri. Mr Baqri, who is being backed by PPP MPA from PP-215 Nishat Ahmad Khan Daha, was transferred to Gojra as TMO.
After a few months, MPA Nishat Ahmad managed Mr Baqri’s transfer back to Khanewal, making the incumbent (Mr Jafri) leave the office during first week of September. Mr Jafri was asked to report to Lahore Local Government and Community Development Headquarters.
As if MPA Nishat Ahmad threw down the gauntlet to the partyman, the latter (Pir Jamil Shah) started efforts again to bring Mr Jafri back to Khanewal and on that particular seat. Success kissed his feet as he got Mr Baqri transferred from Khanewal to Lahore and managed re-posting of Mr Jafri during the last week of September.
Sources told Dawn that Mr Jafri’s rival camp had stepped up efforts to bring its man back to the seat. They said MPA Pir Jamil Shah, who had earlier served the PML-N as key politician, joined the PPP few months before the general election.
“He still enjoys good relations with the PML-N’s local and provincial leadership and it is this relationship that has helped him outwit his colleague,” commented a local politician, who sought anonymity. He said the tug-of-war between the two PPP MPAs had left the city at the mercy of incapable TMA staff which was neglecting the civic problems.
Sources said the district administration, led by the DCO, had been playing the role of silent spectator. After getting Mr Jafri transferred back to Khanewal, the local PML-N youth wing office-bearers, lawyers, traders and an NGO had displayed banners on various spots of the city felicitating MPA Jamil Shah.
“We congratulate MPA Jamil Shah for bringing Syed Ali Hassan Jafri back to Khanewal,” the banners displayed all over the city boasted.
TMO Ali Jafri denied having affiliation with MPA Pir Jamil Shah and claimed that his repeated transfer was an administrative issue. “I don’t have any relation with Mr Jamil Shah. Neither he made efforts to retain me in Khanewal nor did I use any other channel for the purpose,” he said.
When asked about display of banners, Mr Jafri said he didn’t know about such a move. “I am surprised why people are trying to make it a political issue. I joined the office in May and was transferred from here in August 2008. Later, I was transferred back to Khanewal,” he said. Pir Jamil Shah, however, confirmed getting his man transferred back to Khanewal.
“Yes, I managed cancellation of transfer orders of Mr Jafri as he has been working well since he was appointed TMO,” he said, adding that Jafri deserved this slot. He denied having any ‘personal relations’ with Mr Jafri and differences with MPA Nishat Daha over this issue.
Nishat Daha, when approached for comment, expressed ignorance about the issue, saying: “I prefer to stay away from such political battles. I am not at all involved in this case and whosoever is propagating about my interest in getting Mr Baqri back to Khanewal as TMO is doing the wrong thing,” he asserted.