Islamabad, Pakistan: As expected KPK Chief Minister Amin Ghandapur has demanded a Chief Secretary of his choice and has sent a letter to the Federal Government to post Grade 21 officer Shahab Ali Shah as Chief Secretary by the provincial government who is currently serving in Balochistan.
This development can result in the first confrontation between the KPK and the Federal Government in case the Establishment Division does not fulfill administrative requirements from the federating Unit of the KPK province.
Shahab Ali Shah has served as Additional Chief Secretary in KPK in the past from year 2021 to 2023 –the era when PTI attacked Islamabad with the full administrative support of KPK province
It is pertinent to mention that it is mandatory for the officer in demand to relinquish his charge in Balochistan and join as Chief Secretary after getting approval from the Prime Minister/Establishment Division. However, history speaks otherwise as former Chief Secretary and Inspector General Police who were officers of the Federal Government facilitated the then KPK Chief Minister for a virtual attack on the Capital of Islamabad in 2022. No action was taken against any of such officers who even refused to relinquish their charge and report to the Establishment Division.
The PDM government failed to take any action against both officers who kept getting their salaries and all other benefits without even reporting to Establishment Division. This set a bad precedent and political observers believed that Grade 21 officer Shahab Ali Shah would join soon as Chief Secretary KPK without getting approval and reporting to the Federation. Grade 21 officer Shahab Ali Shah has served as Additional Chief Secretary in KPK in the past from year 2021 to 2023 –the era when PTI attacked Islamabad with the full administrative support of KPK province.
