The decision followed an order by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Rawalpindi to delay Computer Science papers for the Intermediate Second Annual Examinations, which had been scheduled for November 10.
The board had moved the examinations to November 30 on the recommendation of the Jhelum deputy commissioner. The proposed postponement was linked to anticipated traffic congestion during the chief minister’s planned visit to Jhelum and Pind Dadan Khan.
Maryam announced Ozgen’s removal in a post on social media, describing the decision to delay the examinations as a disregard for her instructions. She said the deputy commissioner had been removed with immediate effect.
The chief minister said she had directed district administrations to ensure that official visits did not inconvenience residents or disrupt routine public services. She particularly stressed that students should not face interruptions to their examinations because of visits by government officials.
In a subsequent post, Maryam shared an official notification confirming the transfer of Ozgen, a grade-19 officer. The notification instructed him to report to the Punjab Services and General Administration Department for further directions.
The chief minister also reversed the examination postponement, saying the Computer Science papers would take place on November 10, as originally planned.
“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 in a separate statement.
The reversal means students preparing for the second annual examinations will be expected to follow the original timetable rather than the revised November 30 date announced by the board.
The development has placed the focus on the responsibilities of local administrations when arranging security, traffic management and other logistical measures for visits by senior government officials.
District administrations routinely coordinate with police, traffic authorities and other departments ahead of visits by provincial leaders. Such arrangements can involve road closures, security checks and changes to traffic flows, particularly in busy urban areas.
However, the chief minister’s response made clear that those arrangements should not interfere with essential public activities, including scheduled examinations.
For students, an unexpected change to an examination date can create practical difficulties, particularly when candidates have arranged transport, study schedules and other commitments around the published timetable.
The latest decision also leaves the education board and local authorities responsible for ensuring that the papers proceed as originally scheduled. Students will need to confirm any examination arrangements through official board communications and their respective examination centres.
The incident comes as provincial authorities continue to emphasise administrative accountability and the delivery of public services. Maryam’s statement signalled that district officials would be held responsible if arrangements for official engagements resulted in disruption to residents.
No further details were immediately provided about who would take over the deputy commissioner’s responsibilities in Jhelum or whether a replacement had been appointed.
The government notification directed Ozgen to report to the provincial services department, where further instructions concerning his posting are expected.
The chief minister’s visit to Jhelum and Pind Dadan Khan is scheduled for November 10, the same day the affected examination papers are due to take place.
By restoring the original examination schedule, the provincial government has sought to ensure that the planned visit does not result in another change for candidates.
Authorities now face the task of managing the visit and local traffic arrangements while keeping examination centres accessible and allowing students to sit their papers without interruption.
