Pillars of the state: Elected members bemoan bureaucratic ‘interference’

CM agrees with cabinet members that powers should lie with them.

PESHAWAR:

The tussle for power between the elected provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and administrative secretaries took a new turn at a recent cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minsiter Pervez Khattak.

A government official, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune that cabinet members vented to the chief minister (CM), asking him to seek an amendment in the relevant rules to give them more power over bureaucrats. “The CM assured them that he will take stock of the situation,” the official said.

He revealed that cabinet members expressed surprise that secretaries working under them in various government departments enjoyed more power than them and claimed they were unable to issue a single order without it going through the bureaucrats’ desks.

Other officials said the provincial ministers were of the view that they are the elected representatives of the people and thus answerable to them for delay in development projects. They claimed they are not being allowed to carry out their plans according to the people’s expectations owing to bureaucratic hurdles.

Displeased with the situation, the CM said the rules of business will be reviewed as powers should not lie with the bureaucracy but with the elected representatives, officials informed.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2014.