The Jhelum deputy commissioner, Mir Raza Ozgen, was removed from his post on Sunday after Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz acted over the postponement of intermediate computer science papers for her November 10 visit.
The papers, part of the Intermediate Second Annual Examinations 2026, had been deferred on the deputy commissioner’s recommendation. He had written to the Rawalpindi Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) that staff deployment for the chief minister’s visit made it impossible to run the exams without interruption.
In the letter, he said the deployment of administrative and security staff during the visit meant the exams could not be held smoothly. He asked the board to postpone the papers and fix another suitable date, so that students faced no inconvenience and both the exams and the visit could proceed without trouble.
The decision drew sharp criticism on social media, where users questioned why students should lose an exam date for a VIP visit. Maryam responded on X, announcing that the deputy commissioner had been removed with immediate effect.
She said she had given explicit instructions that no inconvenience or disruption should be caused to the public during her visits to the districts. “This is a clear disregard for my directions,” she added.
In a later post, she shared a notification showing that the deputy commissioner had been transferred and told to report to the Punjab Services and General Administration Department for further orders.
Exams restored to the original date
Maryam also announced that the postponed exams would now go ahead on the original schedule. The computer science papers will be held on Tuesday, November 10, as first planned.
“Notwithstanding any acts of foolishness or misplaced over-smartness on part of the district administration, the examinations shall be held strictly in accordance with the original schedule, i.e. Tuesday, 10th November,” she posted on X.
Feature Pakistan reported the postponement earlier on Sunday, when the board moved the papers on the deputy commissioner’s request. The chief minister’s action now reverses that decision within hours.
What the Jhelum deputy commissioner decision means for students
The second annual examinations give intermediate students a second chance to clear failed subjects or improve their grades. A change of date at short notice can disrupt revision plans, travel and family arrangements, which is why the postponement drew such a strong reaction.
With the original date restored, students in Jhelum will now sit the computer science papers on November 10, alongside candidates in the rest of the Rawalpindi board’s jurisdiction. The board is expected to confirm the arrangements for the day.
The episode also shows how district officials handle VIP visits. Security and protocol duties often pull large numbers of staff away from routine work, and in this case the deputy commissioner judged that the exams could not run properly at the same time. The chief minister’s response makes clear that she expects officials to protect public services first, even during her own visits.
What happens next
The removed deputy commissioner will report to the Services and General Administration Department, which will decide his next posting. A replacement for Jhelum is yet to be announced.
Meanwhile, the chief minister’s visit to Jhelum will go ahead on November 10, the same day the restored exams are held. The district administration will now have to run both without disrupting the other.
The by-elections in NA-77 and PP-203 are also being held in Punjab on Sunday, and the Election Commission has already taken notice of a code of conduct issue involving a federal minister in the NA-77 campaign. The Jhelum episode adds to a day of close scrutiny of how officials handle public duties around political events.
Frequently asked questions
Why was the Jhelum DC removed?
Maryam Nawaz removed Deputy Commissioner Mir Raza Ozgen because he had the intermediate computer science papers postponed for her November 10 visit. She said the move defied her explicit instructions that her visits must not disrupt the public.
When will the postponed exams be held?
The computer science papers for the Intermediate Second Annual Examinations 2026 will now be held on the original date, Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
What did Maryam Nawaz say about the postponement?
She said the deputy commissioner’s action was “a clear disregard for my directions” and described it as “foolishness or misplaced over-smartness” by the district administration.
Who is the new Jhelum deputy commissioner?
No replacement has been announced yet. The removed deputy commissioner will report to the Services and General Administration Department, which will decide his next posting.
