PESHAWAR, Pakistan: The power tussle between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and senior bureaucrats has resulted in removal and transfer of two Chief Secretaries, an Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) and dozens of other officers of senior positions in the province.
Sources privy to the ruling PTI told APP on condition of anonymity that the practice has badly affected the overall performance of provincial government and shed a negative impact on the pace of development and reforms agenda of the PTI government.
Issues pertaining to police reforms, slash in powers of bureaucracy and Khyber Bank scandal fanned the cold war between the KPK government and Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan that resulted in yet another departure of a Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after his successor Arbab Shehzad was shown the door in a similar way one and half years back. Arbab was axed after he denied succumbing to undue pressure of the legislators belonging to ruling allied parties.
The recently removed Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan has also been asked to report to the federal government for further posting and the charge of his office was given to ACS Azam Khan till the arrival of new entrant as the Chief Minister has written a formal letter to the Centre seeking appointment of another CS for the province.
Amjad Ali Khan was fired as the PTI and Jamaat Islami law makers made formal complaints to PTI Chief Imran Khan during a meeting few weeks back against the senior most bureaucrat.
The PTI sources further informed that PTI maestro Jehangir Tareen wanted to induct his blue eyed Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera a sitting Federal Secretary Privatization as Chief Secretary KPK as his file has been moved to Prime Minister Secretariat along with two others in the panel. Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera belongs to Lodhran, Punjab.
Arbab Shehzad, the sitting Federal Secretary Commerce, was appointed KP Chief Secretary after the retirement of Ghulam Dastgir, however within a period of one year disparity started between the Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Arbab on various issues, including transfers and postings of officers and administrative matters.
The federal government called back Arbab Shehzad in April 2014 on the request of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after differences between them reached a peak level.
Thereafter, on the recommendation of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak the federal government appointed Amjad Ali Khan as new Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the situation remained unchanged as he (Khattak) and his ministers once again entered into confrontational situation with the Chief Secretary over postings, transfers and administrative issues.
It was also learnt that owing to war of power between KP government and bureaucracy five officers of Health Department and six officers of Industries Department have been removed from their place of duty during the last three years.
Moreover, former Additional Chief Secretary P&D, Hammad Owais also had to report to Centre due to the prevailing confrontational circumstances in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Many officers working in the team of recently transferred Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan are also looking unhappy with the situation and trying for their transfer to Islamabad.
