LAHORE: District Coordination Officer (DCO) Muhammad Usman has written a letter to the Punjab home secretary to stop the transfer of Lahore District Emergency Officer Dr Ahmad Raza who has been posted at Bahawalnagar by Res cue 1122 Director General (DG) Dr Rizwan Naseer.

The DG had issued transfer order of Dr Raza on Oct 20, two days after his reappointment. The same day, the DCO wrote a letter to the Punjab home secretary with recommendations to withdraw the transfer of Dr Raza, terming the services of the officer satisfactory.

The letter, available with Dawn, states: `Lahore District EmergencyOfficer Dr Ahmad Raza has been working to the entire satisfaction of the divisional/district management. This office strongly recommends the withdrawal of his transfer orders with immediate effect as he cannot be relieved, keeping in view his experience and the present law and order/emergency situation of the city. Moreover, the chief minister has recently sent a delegation under his supervision to the UK regarding emergency management for the Orange Line Metro Train Project.

However, Dr Naseer told Dawn the officer was transferred over poor performance because he had failed to maintain the standard of rescue opera-tions. He said there were total 48 emergency vehicles for the city rescue operation and 22 of them were not fit for the service which was affecting the performance for the last nine months.

Quoting an incident in factory collapse in Sunder Industrial Estate, he said the rescue officers had to call staff from other districts to complete the operation. He said the district emergency officer was directed to maintain the service several times but he could not do so.

Dr Naseer said the officer would also have to face disciplinary action over poor performance and he was now directed to improve his performance at his new post. Reporter