Punjab govt abruptly changes LG secretary.

LAHORE -- The Punjab government has in a surprise move on Thursday posted a new secretary to the local government and community development (LG and CD) department and committed to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the local government elections before Sept 30.

LG and CD department secretary Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan who accompanied law minister Basharat Raja to hold a scheduled meeting with the ECP chairman and members, was transferred even before he could return to the provincial capital.

Sources claim there were reports that Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, who himself is holding the portfolio of LG and CD department, was not happy with Dr Chauhan's performance and transferred him even before his return after presenting Punjab's case of preparations for LG polls to ECP chairman Sikandar Sultan Raja and other provincial members.

Dr Chauhan did not respond to calls and WhatsApp messages asking clear-cut question about his transfer over his 'poor performance'.

The Punjab government made Dr Chauhan OSD and replaced him with Noorul Amin Mengal, who was awaiting posting in the S and GAD department.

Law minister says province is ready to hold local polls before Sept 3

The government also transferred LG and CD department special secretary Babar Aman Babar and posted him as special secretary primary and secondary healthcare department, in his own pay and scale, against a vacant post.

Law Minister Basharat Raja told Dawn that the Punjab government critics should get their apprehensions removed about the holding of local government elections as the government committed that the LG elections could be held before Sept 30. He said the Punjab government had in August last year also committed that the ECP could give dates for the holding of elections but the raging prevalence of coronavirus pandemic had blocked the holding of elections.

'The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had also written to the ECP not to schedule elections during the coronavirus infections in the country and particularly in Punjab,' Mr Raja said.

The law minister said the ECP had written its last letter to the Punjab government on Jan 15 asking it to present its preparations case and give a clear-cut time-frame for...

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