Struggle for power: Tug-of-war between minister and secretary disturb health dept

Some additional and deputy secretaries have<br /> also gone on leave.


Our Correspondent July 01, 2014

KARACHI: The provincial health department is going through a tough time. Not only do they have to fight the polio virus, naeglaria and heat strokes but differences between the Sindh health minister and health secretary are also causing problems.  

These differences are disturbing the way the department is run as officials are confused about whose orders they have to follow.

When Muttahida Qaumi Movement joined the provincial government in May, the health portfolio was handed over to Dr Sagheer Ahmed. This isn’t the first time the minister was handling the portfolio, he was also responsible for it during the previous government’s tenure.

The health secretary Iqbal Hussain Durrani is considered to be one of the province’s most influential secretaries and is a competent officer. At the moment he is abroad on a 10-day leave.

Sources claim that problem between the two men started nearly a month ago when Dr Ahmed wrote an application to the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court.

He also wrote letters to Pakistan Peoples Party leader Asif Ali Zardari, Governor of Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Sindh Chief Secretary Sajjad Saleem Hotiana stating that Durrani had appointed three officials and it went against the rules and regulations of the department.

“He is considered to be a competent officer,” said an official who did not wish to be named. “The minister does not want to see him on this post as he took several initiatives without his consent.”

Another official told The Express Tribune that Durrani’s interference in such matters had created differences between the two men. He added that this had disrupted the department’s progress and routine activity.

Before Dr Ahmed took oath as the health minister, the department’s affairs were looked after by Durrani’s father-in-law, the chief minister of Sindh.

Some officials of the department claim that Durrani did some good work. They say that he tried to resolve the health issues in Tharparkar and had also initiated some schemes in the desert and other parts of Sindh.

According to sources, before he went on leave Durrani informed his father-in-law that he was not being permitted to work independently as the secretary of the department. The source also claimed that he told Qaim Ali Shah that it was not possible for him to continue working under the current circumstances.

Another official informed The Express Tribune that some of the additional and deputy secretaries have also gone on leave after differences between the secretary and minister emerged.

He added that the officials believe that since Durrani and Dr Ahmed are both politically influential it would be difficult to ignore the growing divide.

“Durrani will not join the health department as secretary now,” said an official. “The minister seems more powerful than the secretary. I do not think that both of them can work together. I believe that a new secretary will be appointed soon.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2014.

 

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