Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has removed Jhelum Deputy Commissioner Mir Reza Ozgen from his post with immediate effect after expressing displeasure over his request to relocate an intermediate examination centre ahead of her visit to the district.
The decision was announced by the chief minister in a post on social media platform X on Sunday. She said she had issued clear instructions that her official visits to districts should not cause inconvenience or disruption to the public.
However, she expressed concern that the instructions had not been followed in Jhelum.
“This is a clear disregard for my directions,” Maryam Nawaz said, announcing that the deputy commissioner had been removed from his position with immediate effect.
Exam Centre Request
The controversy arose after the Jhelum Deputy Commissioner’s Office sent a letter dated November 6 to the chairman of the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE), Rawalpindi.
The letter concerned Computer Science papers scheduled for November 10 as part of the Intermediate Second Annual Examination 2026.
According to the correspondence, examinations for both the first and second groups were due to take place at Government Comprehensive School in Jhelum.
The deputy commissioner requested that the examination papers be shifted to another suitable centre rather than postponing the examinations across the district.
Despite my explicit instructions that no inconvenience or disruption whatsoever should be caused to the public during my visits to the districts, such an incident has nevertheless occurred. This is a clear disregard for my directions. Accordingly, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) is hereby REMOVED FROM THE POST WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) November 8, 2026
Reason Behind Request
The letter explained that the proposed change was being sought in view of a high-profile visit and the possibility of traffic congestion.
It stated that the expected traffic situation could cause difficulties for students and their parents travelling to the examination centre.
The deputy commissioner’s office therefore asked the education board to arrange an alternative venue for the Computer Science papers instead of disrupting the examination schedule throughout Jhelum.
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DC Removed Immediately
In a separate social media post, Maryam Nawaz shared a copy of the official notification ordering Ozgen’s removal from the post of deputy commissioner of Jhelum.
The notification was issued by the Punjab government’s Services and General Administration Department.
It stated that Ozgen had been directed to report to the department for further orders, effectively ending his current assignment as Jhelum’s deputy commissioner.
The chief minister reiterated that public convenience must remain a priority during her visits to different districts and that her instructions regarding avoiding disruption should be followed.