DAWN LAHORE, March 20: The Punjab government on Tuesday again posted some junior officers against senior-grade posts in violation of rules and its own policy in this regard.

On Monday, the provincial government had posted against higher grade slots two junior officers – one as Lahore district coordination officer and the other as Lahore Development Authority director general. Both the posts are for BS-20 officers and had been held even by those in BS-21.

Lahore District Coordination Officer Ahad Cheema was transferred and posted as LDA DG and was replaced by an additional secretary at Chief Minister`s Secretariat, Noorul Amin Mengal. Both of them are in BS-19 on an officiating basis.

Mr Cheema has completed his hat-trick of getting BS-20 and BS-21 posts despite being in junior grade. Before holding the BS-21 post of Lahore DCO, he served as higher education secretary, a BS-20 or BS-21 post.

On Tuesday, Board of Revenue Director General (Relief) Khalid Sherdil was made an officer on special duty and was replaced by his brother Mujahid Sherdil who was Sialkot DCO. It is a BS-20 post whereas Mr Mujahid Sherdil is in BS-19. He was posted as Sialkot DCO, a BS-20 post, when he was in BS-18.

On Tuesday, he was replaced by Chief Minister`s Secretariat Deputy Secretary Zahid Salim Gondal who is in BS-18.

Sources said Mr Khalid Sherdil, who was made an OSD, has gone to the United States for completion of his PhD prior to the approval of his two-year leave by the Establishment Division.

Zahid Salim Gondal`s appointment has also shocked the PCS Officers Association which had reportedly cancelled its protest on March 10 after he (Gondal) had promised to get accepted the body`s demands by the chief minister.

The government had recently introduced two amendments to the Local Government Ordinance — downgrading BS-21 DCO posts in certain districts, including Lahore to BS-20 and then removing the condition of grades for all DCO posts.

But it is learnt that the authorities concerned had recently got approved a policy under which 20 DCO posts will be for officers in BS-19 and the remaining will be occupied by BS-20 officers. Under this policy which is yet to be announced, the DCO posts in Gujranwala, Sialkot and Lahore districts are for BS-20 officers but the slots were given to those in BS-19 on officiating basis, or to BS-18 officers.

Meanwhile, OSD Capt Maroof Afzal (retired) was posted as prosecution secretary in place of Muhammad Amlish who was made an OSD. Mr Amlish is attending a National Management Course.

Mandi Bahauddin District Coordination Officer Muhammad Amin Chaudhry was posted as Gujranwala DCO in place of Nabil Ahmad Awan who was made an officer on special duty. Mr Awan is attending a mid-career course.

The vacant post of Mandi Bahauddin DCO was given to Punjab Cane Commissioner Tariq Mahmood.