LAHORE: An assistant director and a data operator of Lahore chief traffic officer (CTO) office have been booked for forging the orders issued by capital city police officer for dismissal from service of a traffic warden.

The officials had been found involved in malpractices in the past but no action was initiated against them, a source in CTO office told Dawn on Tuesday.

Lower Mall police have registered a case against warden Aamir Abbas, data operator Muhammad Waqas and assistant director Hameed Bhatti.

According to the documents available with Dawn, the CCPO Amin Wains heard an appeal filed by Aamir Abbas who was dismissed from service by CTO after he wasfound guilty of hacl(ing the main server of licensing branch twice and changing his own ID card number illegally when he was posted in the printing section.

The licensing branch DSP conducted an inquiry into the matter and mentioned in his report submitted to the CTO that the warden was found guilty and failed to submit any documentary evidence in his defence. The warden cheated his seniors for ulterior motives, the report said.

The CTO ordered warden`s dismissal from service. The warden filed an appeal with the CCPO office that was rejected.

Later, the warden filed a review petition before Punjab additional inspector general of police which was accepted and the petitioner was reinstated temporarily with the direction for holding a regular inquiry into the matter.The CTO, who was appointed inquiry ofHcerbythe CCPOofHce, found the warden guilty of hacking the main server as well as changing his own ID card illegally.

The CCPO on Sept 2, 2015 also heard the warden personally. In his report, the CCPO said: `Being a responsible police officer, the warden transgressed his official powers and committed criminal act, which is grave misconduct`.

Agreeing with the finding of inquiry officer, he again `dismissed (the warden) from service with immediate effect`.

The CCPO forwarded the orders` copies to CTO, Headquarters SP, City Traffic Police, Lahore, and MTO in-charge.

However, the accused in connivance with the two officials forged the CCPO`s orders, changing their contents, including the allegationsleveled against him and findings of the inquiries.

The CTO reinstated Aamir Abbas `with immediate effect` on the basis of the forged orders.

The forgery was, however, exposed when the `reinstated` warden rejoined the duty and the CCPO was informed through departmental sources that his orders had not been complied with.

CTO Tayyab Hafeez Cheema told Dawn that a fresh inquiry had been ordered against the data operator and assistant director. He added that a case was registered against the three suspects by Lower Mall police station.

He said Saddar Traffic SP Nida Umer Chatha was conducting the inquiry against the officials who committed the forgery af ter receiving bribe. A strict action would be taken against the ofncials if they were found guilty, he added.