Missing information: Home secretary Niaz Ali Abbasi transferred

He was unable to give answers in meeting on militants, security plans

KARACHI: The Sindh government transferred on Friday home secretary Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi allegedly because he failed to give a proper briefing during a high-level meeting at Governor House a day before.

The meeting was attended by the chief minister, the governor, corps commander, Rangers director-general and officials from the police and intelligence agencies. When the home secretary was asked to give a presentation on the law and order situation and the presence of militant groups in the city, he apparently became confused, said an officer who was present in the meeting.



Corps commander General Naveed Mukhtar interrupted him and said, "Your briefing is incomplete." He asked him where he served before his current job. "I was the city commissioner and this is my first experience as secretary," Abbasi admitted. The corps commander reportedly asked the chief minister why they have hired such people on important positions.

Soon after the meeting ended, the chief minister gave out Abbasi's transfer orders and appointed Abdul Rahim Soomro, the livestock secretary, as a replacement.

Abbasi was asked to report to the services, general administration and coordination department. According to notification issued on Thursday night, the government has appointed Noor Muhammad Leghari as the livestock secretary.



Karachi administrator transferred

Meanwhile, the provincial government has also transferred Karachi administrator Rauf Akhtar Farooqui and appointed agriculture secretary Saqib Soomro as his replacement. According to officials privy to the development, Farooqi has been relieved from this position in the wake of the Timber Market incident where 250 shops and 50 warehouses were gutted. The notification further said that Gulzar Ahmed Shaikh, an officer of grade BPS-20, has been appointed as agriculture secretary.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2015.