Two govt officials back to work

LAHORE, April 15: The Punjab government on Friday reinstated two provincial officers who were suspended after they were arrested for staging a demonstration along with others in the Civil Secretariat last month. Afzal Ahmad was made deputy secretary (industries) and Naeem Ghaus deputy secretary (livestock). Officials said they were reinstated after the completion of departmental proceedings against them. The chief secretary completed the proceedings on Friday. They had tendered apology for their alleged misconduct but there was also not much evidence to award them major penalties, the officials said. They said the chief secretary might censure Mr Afzal and pardon Mr Ghaus on Saturday. The chief secretary was also scheduled to finalise proceedings of disciplinary action against two more provincial service officers on Saturday who were arrested with their colleagues for staging a demonstratio n. They were Shaukat Khichi and Hamza Ali. Officials said they were also likely to be awarded minor penalty because of a lack of evidence against them. Three main leaders of the PCS Association — President Rai Manzoor Nasir, Maalik Bhulla and Dr Shoaib Tariq — are scheduled to appear before the chief secretary for personal hearing on April 18. On Friday, they collected evidence against them from the secretary (services). Sources said the additional chief secretary had also finalised disciplinary action proceedings against some officials, including Shaukat Basra. They were not awarded any major penalty, the sources added.