Removal of key officials: Govt rejects AJK PM’s recommendation

Chaudhry Abdul Majeed recommended to take back services of AJK Chief Secretary Khizar Gondal, IGP Malik Awan.

MUZAFFARABAD:

Establishment Division has turned down Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed’s recommendation to take back the services of the AJK Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Malik Khuda Bakhsh Awan, official sources told The Express Tribune.

The official sources said the Establishment Division in reply to the letter of the AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed refused to take back the assignments of Gondal and Awan saying the subject was not related to the AJK premier’s office and both the officers would continue the duty as per their portfolio.

On February 23, AJK PM Majeed had written a letter to the federal government to take back the services of the two powerful officers of the state. Majeed, in his letter to the Establishment Division, accused the chief secretary and inspector general of police of violating the chain of command and rules of business.

“I and other cabinet members have generally found both of you guilty of gross misconduct, violation of Rules of Business, willful disobedience of legal and legitimate authority and chain of command during your posting in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” the letter said.

The letter further claimed that all the members of parliamentary party bipartisanship manifested express dissatisfaction over the officials, adding that there was a consensus that the action of these officers smacked of impeding the functioning of the government and are aimed at attempting to create ill-will and controversy with federal government.

“I therefore  hereby direct you to immediately cease your functioning as Chief Secretary and IGP of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and report to the Establishment Division forthwith,” the PM Majeed wrote to the Establishment Division.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2014.