Changing roles: Establishment dept removes bureaucrats from key posts

PESHAWAR:

The establishment department has issued orders on Thursday to remove various bureaucrats from key positions.

Insiders told The Express Tribune the decision came as a surprise.

Ahmad Hanif Orakzai, a grade-21 officer who was serving as provincial finance secretary, has been removed as the finance secretary. He has been put at the disposal of the establishment department.

Ali Raza Bhutta, a grade-20 officer, who was previously serving as the energy and power secretary, has been appointed secretary of the finance department.

The how and why

An official privy to the development told The Express Tribune, “We don’t know the reason behind the removal but we have been asked to issue the orders after 8pm.”

Another senior official said Orakzai is among the top four bureaucrats in the provincial government.

“He enjoys a status that is equivalent to the chief secretary,” he said. “His immediate removal indicates some officials wanted to sideline him,” the official said.

Officials in the finance department said Orakzai’s strictness might be one of the major reasons for the decision. “There is no doubt he is a competent officer,” an insider said. “But he is very strict which might be one of the reasons behind his removal.”

Climbing the ladder

The establishment department has promoted 31 private secretaries and personal assistants to various posts in the Provincial Management Service.

They have been posted as section officers in various departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2015.