LAHORE: Dozens of officers, including senior mechanical engineers, have threatened the administration of Pakistan Railways (PR) with stopping the work in the next few days if an immediate strict disciplinary action was not taken against Mr Tariq Latif a BS-19 officer, for `physically assaulting` Mr Rahat Mirza, additional general manager (Mechanical / BS-21), and `using abusive language` against a senior officer.

Despite a written complaint lodged by Mr Mirza, with a demand for swift action, the railways ministry, in a surprise move on Thursday, appointed Mr Latif as Director General (Vigilance), based at the PR`s Lahore headquarters, Dawn has learnt.

The officers who jointly signed a petition seeking action against Mr Latif include Khalid Khan, Muhammad Saglain, Abu Bakar Farooq, Muhammad Ismail, Abdul Jabbar, Abdul Waqas, Muhammad Idrees, Ibrahim Memon, Asim Tasneem, Ikram Zaidi, Ms Iram Muzammil, Abdullah Saleem, Salkman Muzahir, Obaid Paul, Danyal Aijaz, Muhammad Atif, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Zohaib and Tahir Shahzad.

The officers condemned Mr Latif forallegedly assaulting a BS-21 officer physically `for no reason`, and urged the railway administration to either take action against him within next few days, or face a boycott of work from them.

Moreover, Mr Mirza along with various other senior officers, went to the office of railway CEO Amir Ali Baloch and submitted a written application against Mr Latif.

He also approached the Pakistan Railways Police Inspector General, seeking his order for registration of a first information report (FIR) against Mr Latif.

`Mr Latif entered my office and exhibited abusive and physically aggressive behavior. During this altercation, he used offensive language, assaulted me, tore my clothes and threatened me with dire consequences,` complained Mr Mirza in his application.

Terming Latif a `mentally sick` and `short-tempered` officer, the complainant also mentioned various other incidents wherein the accused misbehaved with senior officers, including Divisional Superintendent Mr Hanif Gull, DG Technical Mr Irfan U1 Haq, formed federal government inspector of railways (FGIR) Farrakh Taimur Ghilzai, a BS-22officer, and an MPA Latif Nazir. For misbehaving with the MPA, a privilege motion was also moved in the Punjab Assembly against Mr Latif.

Mr Mirza also mentioned an inquiry report wherein the FGIR recommended authorities to get Mr Latif examined psychologically.

`He is a serious threat to society and for any of government official,` he said, requesting the CEO to provide him security.

Mr Latif had earlier rejected the charges, leveling counter allegationS of misbehaviour against Mr Mirza.

However, Mr Mirza termed Latif`s stance as baseless, stating that there are a number of witnesses of the physical assault and use of abusive language by Mr Latif.

`Everyone in Railways knows me and Latif. You may check on your own. And I am sure, you will find Latif a short-tempered and ready-to-fight officer,` Mr Mirza told Dawn when contacted.

According to CEO Baloch, Mr Mirza`s complaint has been forwarded to the chairman of the Railways Board/federal secretary (ministry of railways) for ordering an inquiry against Mr Latif.`Mr Rahat Mirza is a BS-21 officer whose complaint, under the rules, falls under the ambit of the ministry to inquire. In a few days, the inquiry will start against Mr Latif,` Mr Baloch maintained.

Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said: `I will visit Lahore on Monday, and order an inquiry in this regard. I will take action against the officer if found guilty,` he pledged.

Meanwhile, the ministry on Thursday appointed Mr Latif as DG vigilance after his services were repatriated from the National Highway Authority. It also posted Rizwan Saeed Khan as DG Quality Control and Fuel Monitoring.

On the other hand, Mr Tariq Latif said he would face an inquiry without any fear. `First of all, I will seek legal opinion on the complaint lodged by Mr Rahat Mirza. Once I get this, I may also file a complaint against Mr Mirza,` he said.

`As Mr Mirza submitted a complaint, the ministry, issued orders on the instructions of the minister for railways to post me as DG vigilance at the PR headquarters,` he said, citing his fresh posting as a proof of his `innocence`.

-Khalid Hasnain