ECP urges end to perks for ex-cabinet members

Asks Sindh chief secretary, IGP to take back privileges still enjoyed by former provincial ministers

ISLAMABAD:

The country’s polls oversight authority has asked Sindh’s chief secretary to withdraw all the facilities—perks and privileges—that former members of the provincial cabinet and “political appointees of equivalent status” are still utilizing.

In the same letter, Secretary Election Commission Omar Hamid Khan has also asked Sindh Inspector General Police (IGP) Riffat Mukhtar to also withdraw the protocol and security provided to these former ministers, advisors and assistants.

“It had been brought to the notice of the honorable commission [ECP] that former provincial cabinet members and political appointees of equivalent status are continuing to use protocol, security, and privileges accorded to them by virtue of their former offices,” the letter dated October 5 said.

“You are hereby advised to withdraw protocol/security and perks and privileges from provincial cabinet members and political appointees of equivalent status,” it emphasized.

It also instructed the officials to submit a compliance report to the ECP within three days of implementing the instructions. “This matter may be treated as most urgent,” it added.

In a separate letter, the ECP asked Balochistan Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan to immediately transfer Balochistan home secretary, finance secretary, additional chief secretary (development) and services and general administration department secretary from their existing positions.

The ECP said it is charged with the constitutional duty to organize and conduct elections and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly, and in accordance with the law and that corrupt practices are guarded against.

 “Therefore, it has been desired that the senior officers be immediately reshuffled,” it added.