MIANWALI, Sept 1: The rift between the district and tehsil Nazims over the issue of Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) has become severe when the manager of the local branch of the National Bank , who is a cousin of district Nazim, refused to cash cheques issued by the officiating TMO.

Tehsil Nazim Khurshid Anwar vehemently criticized district Nazim Humair Rokhri and bank manager Nasarullah Rokhri on Wednesday saying that only local government secretary was empowered to stop the payment not the Nazim or the manager.

When contacted, NBP manager said the tehsil Nazim, in the presence of authorized TMO Khalid Naeem Bokhari, handed over the additional charge of TMO to his favourite tehsil officer (infrastructure and services) Akram Javaid.

The district coordination officer (DCO) has testified the signature of Mr Bokhari as drawing and disbursement officer (DDO). So he could only encash the cheques issued by the authorized DDO, he added.

Manager Nasarullah Rokhri said he would make payments if the local government secretary authorized Mr Javaid. Mr Khurshid Anwar, however, claimed that he himself like the district Nazim was the account holder so no further verification was needed regarding encashment of cheques.

It may be recalled that the rift between Humair Rokhri and Khurshid Anwar started over the awards of development projects' contracts and powers. The sewerage project of Rs20 million has become a cause of disagreement between the two.

The transfer of two TMOs in a short span of time who had good relations with Mr Anwar and the appointment of Khalid Naeem Bokhari, who is believed one of the closest friends of Mr Rokhri, as the TMO worked as fuel in the power game.

Mr Bokhari had been the Public Health Engineering Department XEN here and Mr Anwar, in the presence of newsmen, had levelled allegations of corruption against him (Bokhari). He also called Mr Bokhari a personal servant of Rokhri as he was living in the Rokhri House.

Interestingly, Mr Anwar did not allow Mr Bokhari to enter his office and instead he locked the office and handed over the charge to Akram Javaid. When contacted, Humair Rokhri candidly denied any rift with Mr Anwar.

He, however, claimed that the tehsil Nazim has no power to stop any officer from working and the TMO could even lodge an FIR against Mr Anwar for interfering in performance of "official duties."

CORRUPTION ALLEGED: A former MNA of the PML-N levelled on Wednesday corruption charges against the district and tehsil Nazims in the award of contract for development projects.

Inamullah Khan Niazi told newsmen at the District Press Club hall here that district Nazim Humair Hayat Khan, after receiving his lion's share of development funds, awarded Rs20 million sewerage contract to a national construction firm but ultimately the contract fell in the hands of a local contractor.

He alleged that the contractor has been using substandard material and claimed that the sewerage lines would leak as soon as they were commissioned. He said he would call a meeting of the traders of Ballokhel Road and protest against the open corruption of the district Nazim.

He feared that the sewerage water would pollute clean water supplies if proper care was not taken in laying of pipelines. Inamullah Khan claimed that the district Nazim was living a luxurious life having six airconditioners in his office and three luxury cars and wagons at the cost of poor people. About tehsil Nazim Khurshid Anwar Khan, the former MNA alleged that he was also plundering public money without any fear.