SIALKOT, Aug 23: Prolonged tussle between two Sialkot district government officials is badly affecting educational activities for the last fortnight. The education complex remained closed on Monday because of the row between two executive district officers of education.

Reports said the district government transferred Sialkot EDO (Education) Mirza Muhammad Iqbal for his alleged involvement in corrupt practices two weeks ago and replaced him with local educationist Riaz Ahmad Cheema.

However, Mr Iqbal, who is said to be an influential person, got his transfer orders cancelled within a week and the provincial government re-appointed him EDO in Sialkot.

When he reached his office to resume the charge, new EDO Riaz Ahmad locked the EDO offices at the education complex. Reacting to it, Mr Iqbal affixed his own locks on the already locked offices so that Mr Cheema could not attend his office.

Few days ago, Mr Iqbal started performing his duties as the EDO at the office of his deputy, but the district government stopped him from doing so. The issue is yet to be settled due to which educational activities are suffering. When contacted, District Nazim Mian Naeem Javed said the local government would not allow any corrupt officer to work as the EDO (education).

BURNT ALIVE: Two girls burnt alive while cooking here on Monday in different incidents. At Kulluwal village, Uggoki, Nazia Bibi (15) was cooking in the kitchen when the oil stove burst, as a result she suffered serious burn wounds and died before any medication.

The clothes of Naseem Bibi (21) caught fire while cooking at Tulsipur village, Pasrur resulting in her on-the-spot death.

LAID TO REST: Muhammad Khan (39), a local exporter, and his two minor sons Saifullah and Hyder were laid to rest here on Monday in their native graveyard at Naul More, Uggoki.

Mr Khan and his sons were killed in a road accident in Baltimore (USA) a few days ago while his wife Aisha Khan and two daughters Sana (9) and Maryam (3) sustained serious injuries.

VISIT CANCELLED: The visit of Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to Sialkot on Aug 26 has been cancelled. This was said by the district coordination officer here on Monday.

RAPED: A landlord allegedly raped his stepdaughter 'S' (17) at gunpoint here on Monday at Sadhey Chak, Kotli Loharan.