Administration: Govt directed to appoint regular LDA chief

LHC questions appointment of Ahad Cheema as additional DG

LAHORE: Justice Farrukh Irfan Khan of Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the provincial government to appoint a permanent director general (DG) at the Lahore Development Authority.

The judge directed an additional advocate general to convey the directive to the authorities concerned and submit a report at next hearing on March 29.

The court was hearing the matter related to additional charge of LDA DG being given to Quaid-i-Azam Solar Park Chief Executive Ahad Khan Cheema.

At the last hearing, Sabiha Khanum had filed a contempt of court petition against Cheema for not complying with an earlier court directive.

In his written order, the judge said, “A person holding additional charge of LDA DG will not have sufficient time to properly look after the affairs of the department… that is why his subordinates are indulging in undesired practices and making efforts to run the institution on their own.”

The judge said the responsibility of LDA DG had been given to a person already engaged with the Quid-i-Azam Thermal Power Project. “Is there a dearth of competent civil servants in the province, or is Ahad Cheem vested with such extraordinary human powers that he can take on his shoulders the executive responsibilities of two important assignments simultaneously?” the judge remarked.

Justice Khan said it was court’s prime duty to protect the right to life, property and liberty of citizens.

“When a department of the government is failing to render services to the people in a responsible manner or [has been] negligent in doing so, this court is under its constitutional mandate to pass such directions as it may deem appropriate and expedient to streamline the working potential of such an institution.”

The judge directed Cheema to appear at the next hearing and inform the court how much time he was devoting to look after the LDA’s affairs.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2016.