Bureaucracy vs govt: In AJK, power tangle continues
PM excludes IGP and Chief Secretary from informal Cabinet meeting.
AJK PM Chaudhry Abdul Majeed. PHOTO: AFP
MUZAFFARABAD:
The tension between the three offices is badly affecting the work across the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The government departments are confused over whose orders to follow in running the affairs of the state.
In a recent development, the Chief Secretary office termed the appointment of Secretary Services Khawaja Ahsan unlawful saying the appointment has not been made under the rules of business.
The appointment file was not sent to the Chief Secretary office for the approval, the chief secretary office spokesman said.
Whereas the Prime Minister (PM) Secretariat spokesman claimed the order issued by the PM does not need approval from any other office.
The AJK premiere has not invited the two top government officials to the informal cabinet meeting held here on Friday.
Prime Minister (PM) Chaudhry Abdul Majeed excluded the Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Malik Khuda Bakhsh Awan from the usual list of invites to such meetings.
PM while addressing the cabinet said both the officers called in Rangers in the by-elections of Legislative Assembly-22 Sudhonti-Poonch-VI constituency without his consent which was an unconstitutional act.
“We have to work for the supremacy of the constitution and nobody is above the law,” PM said. The cabinet members reaffirmed their support to the premiere.
On Feb 23 Majeed had written a letter to the federal government to get back the services of the two officers.
Three days later, the Establishment Division turned down the request saying that transfers and postings of the lent officers in not their jurisdiction.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.
The tension between the three offices is badly affecting the work across the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The government departments are confused over whose orders to follow in running the affairs of the state.
In a recent development, the Chief Secretary office termed the appointment of Secretary Services Khawaja Ahsan unlawful saying the appointment has not been made under the rules of business.
The appointment file was not sent to the Chief Secretary office for the approval, the chief secretary office spokesman said.
Whereas the Prime Minister (PM) Secretariat spokesman claimed the order issued by the PM does not need approval from any other office.
The AJK premiere has not invited the two top government officials to the informal cabinet meeting held here on Friday.
Prime Minister (PM) Chaudhry Abdul Majeed excluded the Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Malik Khuda Bakhsh Awan from the usual list of invites to such meetings.
PM while addressing the cabinet said both the officers called in Rangers in the by-elections of Legislative Assembly-22 Sudhonti-Poonch-VI constituency without his consent which was an unconstitutional act.
“We have to work for the supremacy of the constitution and nobody is above the law,” PM said. The cabinet members reaffirmed their support to the premiere.
On Feb 23 Majeed had written a letter to the federal government to get back the services of the two officers.
Three days later, the Establishment Division turned down the request saying that transfers and postings of the lent officers in not their jurisdiction.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 1st, 2014.