Misuse of authority: Punjab likely to seek action against officer

Punjab govt likely to request federal govt to suspend a DMG officer and initiate disciplinary proceedings against him.

LAHORE:

The Punjab government is likely to request the federal government to suspend a District Management Group (DMG) officer and initiate disciplinary proceedings against him on charges corruption and misuse of judicial authority, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The Punjab government acquired 594 kanals land in Mandi Bahauddin for the construction of a district headquarters hospital.

Khalid Nazir Wattoo, a DMG officer, then posted as the Mandi Bahauddin EDO (Revenue) allegedly misused his judicial authority at the time by de-notifying the acquisition of 142 kanals of land to benefit the owner. It is further alleged that the letter was kept ‘hidden’ for 90 days so that the Health Department could not challenge the decision at the appropriate forum.

Wattoo is also accused of passing ante-dated orders to favour the applicants in four petitions after his transfer from the post of EDO (Revenue) in September 2010. As Wattoo is a DMG officer, the case can only be pursued by the Establishment Division (ED).

The Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) is scheduled to send relevant documents including statements of allegations and list of witnesses to ED with the request to suspend the officer and to initiate disciplinary action against him.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Wattoo denied the allegations and said they were a ‘pack of lies’. He said he was being victimised. Wattoo is currently serving as a section officer in the ED.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2011.