Sindh govt orders bureaucracy overhaul
‘Partisan’ officials given plum posts after transfer.
According to a notification issued by the caretaker government, at least 41 bureaucrats have been transferred and given new assignments. PHOTO: FILE
KARACHI:
In a major shakeup of the Sindh bureaucracy, the caretaker government has transferred dozens of senior civil servants – including secretaries, commissioners and deputy commissioners – in compliance with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) orders.
However, the most controversial bureaucrats – including secretaries of education and local government departments – have not been replaced. Education Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho is the husband of former MNA Dr Azra Pechuho, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, while Local Government Secretary Ali Ahmed Lund is said to be a PPP sympathiser.
The reshuffle came a day after the ECP directed the Sindh government to change at least 65 top civil servants citing complaints of political favouritism against them. Interestingly, these ‘partisan’ officials have been assigned equally important roles in other districts and departments.
According to a notification issued by the caretaker government, at least 41 bureaucrats have been transferred and given new assignments. However, sources called the move an eyewash because, according to them, most of the bureaucrats identified by the ECP have not been changed.
The federal government, on the other hand, has yet to make a decision about the provincial chief secretary even though the ECP and Supreme Court have ordered his transfer.
Senior member of the Board of Revenue Shahzar Shamoon has been transferred and posted as Chairman of the Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment. Shamoon was among the senior bureaucrats who served on the same post during the five-year tenure of the PPP-led coalition government. He is said to be a close aide of Awais Muzaffar Tappi, the foster brother of President Zardari.
Malik Asrar Hussain, the additional chief secretary at the Home Department, has been posted as a senior member of the Board of Revenue. Various political parties and civil society activists had called for his transfer accusing him of being sympathetic to the previous PPP-led government. Surprisingly he has been assigned an even more important position: administrative control over all deputy commissioners.
Similarly, Forest & Wildlife Department Secretary Wasim Ahmed has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary at the Home Department. Fazalur Rehman, a BS-20 officer awaiting posting, will replace Ahmed at the Forest & Wildlife Department.
Seema Najeeb, a BS-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Services, has been assigned the previously vacant post of Secretary Women Development Department.
Muhammad Farooq Leghari, a BS-20 bureaucrat awaiting posting, has been posted as Secretary Energy Department, while another BS-20 officer Dr Atta Muhammad Panhwar, who has been serving as Secretary Excise & Taxation Department, has been assigned the Livestock & Fisheries Department. Tourism Secretary Muhammad Waseem Ursani has been assigned the Excise & Taxation Department.
Muhammad Rashid, a BS-20 officer awaiting posting, has been appointed as Director General Provincial Services Academy. Pervez Ahmed Junejo, Director General Provincial Ombudsman (Mohtasib) Secretariat, has been posted as Secretary Katchi Abadis Department in place of Makdoom Shakeel-uz-Zaman, who has been appointed as Special Secretary.
Dr Iqbal Saeed Khan, a member of the Chief Minister’s Inspection, Enquiries & Implementation Team, has been transferred and posted as Director General Gorakh Hill Authority.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2013.
In a major shakeup of the Sindh bureaucracy, the caretaker government has transferred dozens of senior civil servants – including secretaries, commissioners and deputy commissioners – in compliance with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) orders.
However, the most controversial bureaucrats – including secretaries of education and local government departments – have not been replaced. Education Secretary Dr Fazlullah Pechuho is the husband of former MNA Dr Azra Pechuho, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, while Local Government Secretary Ali Ahmed Lund is said to be a PPP sympathiser.
The reshuffle came a day after the ECP directed the Sindh government to change at least 65 top civil servants citing complaints of political favouritism against them. Interestingly, these ‘partisan’ officials have been assigned equally important roles in other districts and departments.
According to a notification issued by the caretaker government, at least 41 bureaucrats have been transferred and given new assignments. However, sources called the move an eyewash because, according to them, most of the bureaucrats identified by the ECP have not been changed.
The federal government, on the other hand, has yet to make a decision about the provincial chief secretary even though the ECP and Supreme Court have ordered his transfer.
Senior member of the Board of Revenue Shahzar Shamoon has been transferred and posted as Chairman of the Enquiries and Anti-Corruption Establishment. Shamoon was among the senior bureaucrats who served on the same post during the five-year tenure of the PPP-led coalition government. He is said to be a close aide of Awais Muzaffar Tappi, the foster brother of President Zardari.
Malik Asrar Hussain, the additional chief secretary at the Home Department, has been posted as a senior member of the Board of Revenue. Various political parties and civil society activists had called for his transfer accusing him of being sympathetic to the previous PPP-led government. Surprisingly he has been assigned an even more important position: administrative control over all deputy commissioners.
Similarly, Forest & Wildlife Department Secretary Wasim Ahmed has been posted as Additional Chief Secretary at the Home Department. Fazalur Rehman, a BS-20 officer awaiting posting, will replace Ahmed at the Forest & Wildlife Department.
Seema Najeeb, a BS-20 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Services, has been assigned the previously vacant post of Secretary Women Development Department.
Muhammad Farooq Leghari, a BS-20 bureaucrat awaiting posting, has been posted as Secretary Energy Department, while another BS-20 officer Dr Atta Muhammad Panhwar, who has been serving as Secretary Excise & Taxation Department, has been assigned the Livestock & Fisheries Department. Tourism Secretary Muhammad Waseem Ursani has been assigned the Excise & Taxation Department.
Muhammad Rashid, a BS-20 officer awaiting posting, has been appointed as Director General Provincial Services Academy. Pervez Ahmed Junejo, Director General Provincial Ombudsman (Mohtasib) Secretariat, has been posted as Secretary Katchi Abadis Department in place of Makdoom Shakeel-uz-Zaman, who has been appointed as Special Secretary.
Dr Iqbal Saeed Khan, a member of the Chief Minister’s Inspection, Enquiries & Implementation Team, has been transferred and posted as Director General Gorakh Hill Authority.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 13th, 2013.