LAHORE - District Coordination Officer Ahad Cheema has ordered inquiry into mismanagement and misappropriations in Birth and Death Certificate Record Section and issuance of bogus birth certificates in union councils, reliable sources informed TheNation on Tuesday. The sources further said that DCO initiated action on a news item published in The Nation on Monday regarding fraudulent issuance of uncountable birth certificates by two secretaries of union councils No 111 and No 103 and on dozens of public complaints regarding issuance of counterfeit birth certificates by the officials of Birth and Death Certificate Record Section of Health Department of City District Government Lahore (CDGL). The DCO also ordered inquiry about embezzlement by the administrators and secretaries of various union councils of the city who were issuing birth certificates without any verification in violation of a notification issued by Punjab Local Government as well as CDGL bylaws in this regard, the sources added. The sources said that initially DCO found through the complaints that officials of said section of health department; secretaries and administrators of almost all the union councils of the city were involved in this malpractice and were minting money. They set up their 'Birth Certificate Bazaars in their areas concerned after delegation of powers, transferred from Birth and Death Certificates Record Section to secretary UCs regarding issuance of such certificates and started 'distributing such computerized certificates among the people. They said that the authorities also came to know that by misusing their powers, the secretaries and administrators of UCs unlawfully issued thousands of birth certificates to hundreds of unknown persons without verifying their bio data and neglecting the importance of this basic and vital document essential for getting nationality of the country, National Identity Cards as well as passports. While issuing birth certificates, the secretaries and administrators were considering these powers a money making machines and that is why they started distributing birth certificates in this 'Birth Certificate Bazaars as distribution of these certificate was their legal obligation. Meanwhile, they issued dozens of birth certificates to unidentified persons without verifying whether they were Pakistani citizens or not which is irresponsible and non-professional attitude on part of the of the officials. It might be possible they issued birth certificates to some most wanted criminals, culprits, terrorists and anti Pakistan elements, who on behalf of these birth certificates might succeeded to get other credentials particularly passports and National Identity Cards, they added. However, these officials of BDCS and secretaries of union councils have become conscious and alert after the publication of news in this regard in general and inquiry orders by the DCO in particular so they have halted their all their unlawful activities for the time being, the sources concluded. Ranjha made OSD The Punjab govt on Tuesday has made Managing Director Punjab Minerals Development Corporation Shafqat-ur-Rehman Ranjha Officer on Special Duty. MD Punjab Minerals Development Corporation Shafqat-ur-Rehman Ranjha has been directed to report to the Services and General Administration Department for further orders. Secretary PUNJMIN Shahid Mahmood has been given the additional charge of MD PMDC. Ranjha was being probed for thrashing a PCS officer Atta Ullah Siddiqui, and a committee, headed by Secretary Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department, was investigating the matter. On the other hand, Additional Secretary (O&M) S&GAD Muhammad Aslam has been made OSD, and he has been replaced by AS Sports Mian Ibrar Ahmed.