LAHORE:  Punjab government transferred Additional Secretary Information and Culture Department Saman Rai against a vacant post of Punjab Council of Arts Executive Director despite that a petition questioning her acting charge of the same post has been pending adjudication before the Lahore High Court.

Saman Rai who was Additional Secretary Information and Culture Department held the additional charge of Executive Director of Punjab Council of Arts on deputation basis since June 12, 2017 till May 22 – just seven days after the Lahore High Court directed the Punjab government to submit specific instruction regarding her acting charge.

Hafiz Zeeshan, the petitioner, had questioned her acting charge alleging that it was against the rules and regulations of the government that an officer was holding the acting charge for more than six months. He said a person could be given additional charge only for the period of three months but not more than six months but the respondent held the office for almost a year and drew double salary from the national exchequer. 

According to a notification issued on May 22, 2018 Saman Rai was transferred from the post of Additional Secretary Information & Culture department to a vacant post of executive director of Punjab Council of Arts.  Akhtar Abbas (IRS/BS-18) who had been awaiting posting in Services & General Administration department was posted as Additional Secretary Information and Culture Department.

The court would take up the case on June 14, 2018.