Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has removed Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Mir Raza Ozgen from his post after Intermediate examination papers in the district were postponed ahead of her Jhelum visit. The removal was announced on Sunday, November 8, and the chief minister ordered that the postponed exams be held on their original date, Tuesday, November 10, which is the day of her scheduled visit to the district. His first name is also spelt Reza in some reports.
The order and the transfer
In a post on X, Maryam Nawaz described the postponement as a clear disregard for her instructions and announced the deputy commissioner's immediate removal. She later shared a transfer notification, and the Punjab government said Ozgen, a BS-19 officer, had been transferred with immediate effect. BS-19 is a senior grade in the civil service. He has been directed to report to the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) for further orders.
Why the exams were moved
The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Rawalpindi had postponed the Computer Science papers of the Intermediate Second Annual Examinations from November 10 to November 30. The move came on the recommendation of the Jhelum deputy commissioner, who cited Maryam Nawaz's Jhelum visit, her planned stop in Pind Dadan Khan and the traffic congestion they were expected to cause. In a letter to BISE Rawalpindi, Ozgen had said that deploying administrative and security staff could affect the smooth conduct of the exams and inconvenience students.
The chief minister said that her visits should not cause inconvenience or disruption to the public, particularly students, and that the postponement went against those instructions. She added that authorities were expected to make sure students did not face disruption during her visits.
What the chief minister has directed
In another X post, Maryam Nawaz said the examinations would be held strictly on the original schedule. "Notwithstanding any acts of foolishness or misplaced over-smartness on the part of the district administration, the examinations shall be held strictly in accordance with the original schedule," she said.
She also directed regional and district police officers, commissioners and deputy commissioners to make sure security during her visits did not lead to the closure of markets, shops, businesses or other establishments. Residential streets should not be blocked, and residents' movement should not be restricted in the name of security. Security arrangements should remain discreet, and violations of her instructions would invite strict action.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Before Sunday, November 8: BISE Rawalpindi postponed the Intermediate Computer Science papers from November 10 to November 30 on the Jhelum deputy commissioner's recommendation.
- Sunday, November 8: The chief minister removed Mir Raza Ozgen, and a transfer notification followed directing him to report to the S&GAD.
- Tuesday, November 10: The postponed examinations are to be held on their original schedule, the same day as the chief minister's scheduled visit to Jhelum.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab ki Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ne Jhelum ke Deputy Commissioner Mir Raza Ozgen ko unke post se hata diya hai. Intermediate ke Computer Science ka paper pehle 30 November tak tal diya gaya tha, lekin ab yeh 10 November ko apni asal tareekh par hoga. Is faisle ka matlab hai ke students ka imtehan apne waqt par hoga aur CM ke daure mein bazaar, dukanein aur guzarne ke raaste band nahi honge. Aam shehri ko is se koi rukawat nahi honi chahiye.
