SIALKOT
The prolonged delay in the posting of senior officials at various government departments is badly hampering the departmental functioning, adding to the visitors’ grievances.
In Sialkot, the police department has been working without its district police chief for the last two weeks after the transfer of DPO Muhammad Gohar Nafees. Due to inordinate delay in the posting of a DPO, the junior police officials are unable to control the rising crime in Sialkot district.
The posts of SP (investigation) and DSP (headquarters) have also been lying vacant for the last several months. The investigations and inquiries of dozens of cases are also lying pending due to which the complainants have been facing difficulties. The critical situation is also resulting in overburden on the subordinates in Sialkot police.
On the other hand, the post of district labour officer has been lying vacant for the last five months here, due to which all the related departmental matters were being affected, especially hurting the labourers and industrial workers. Labor unions have expressed grave concern over the situation. They urged the Punjab government to ensure early appointment on the vacant post.
The post of XEN Irrigation Marala-Ravi-Link has also been lying vacant for the last two months. Due to which, there was no proper departmental monitoring of the canals in Sialkot. The complaints regarding theft of sands from Marala-Ravi-Link Canal Motra-Daska-Pasrur, Bambaanwala-Tavi-Baidian Canal Daska and Upper Chenab Canal Sambrial are rising.
For a many months, the post of XEN Highway Sialkot is also lying vacant. The absence of the XEN Highway is also causing inordinate delay in the beginning of the repairing and reconstruction of the main and link roads in Sialkot district. The roads were badly eroded and damaged during the recent flash floods in September 2014.
In Pasrur, the seats of Gepco SDO Sub Division No2, SDO Sub Division No3 and SDO Sub Division Chobara-Pasrur have been lying vacant. The local Gepco consumers are much perturbed as they are unable to get the solution to their problems.
Social, business and political circles of Sialkot have expressed grave concern over the prolonged unavailability of senior officials of these departments. They urged the Punjab government to ensure early appointments on the vacant seats.
Illegal use of official numberplates rises: A large number of private vehicles including motorcycles and cars illegally carrying the green, blue and press numberplates could be seen on the roads here.
The illegal practice by private vehicle owners goes unchecked, leaving several question marks on the performance of Sialkot police and other law-enforcement agencies. Local police claimed that checking of such vehicles was the prime responsibility of the traffic police, while, the traffic police officials put the responsibility on the other’s shoulders.
Local social, law, business and political circles have expressed grave concern over the situation including lawyers Irfanullah Warraich, Shah Nawaz Basra, notables Nawaz Kohaar, Sarfraz Ghuman and Sheikh Muhammad Abid.
They said that such private vehicles could be a great security risk. They urged the district administration to ensure strict checking of such vehicles to avert any untoward incident.
Electronic Media Association District General Secretary Kaleem Rauf Chishti said that several unconcerned people used fake press numberplates on their cars and motorcycles. He said that the media organisations were also not taking serious notice of the situation. They urged Sialkot Press Club to introduce specially designed numberplates for the journalists.