Ms Humaira Ahmad, a grade-22 DMG officer, federal Secretary of national heritage and culture division has informed the establishment division about her unwillingness to serve as Principal Secretary to the President, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Tuesday.
According to sources, the President Arif Hussain Alvi had yesterday returned the services of his Principal Secretary Waqar Ahmed in the backdrop of a saga on account of notification of two bills regarding amendments to Secret Act and Army Act and demanded that Humaira Ahmed be appointed secretary, but she refused to serve as principal secretary to the President of Pakistan.
Humira Ahmed informed the Secretary Establishment Division about her decision. She also conveyed her concerns to the Secretary Establishment Division. She held that she did not want to be a part of any controversy.
Now, Caretaker government is considering alternative options after Humira Ahmed's refusal.
The government has decided to send a panel of three BS-22 officers after taking permission from the Election Commission of Pakistan to President.
After the approval of the Election Commission, the panel of officers will be sent to the President, the sources said.
The president will be able to choose one of the three officers.
After finalizing the name of the Secretary to the President, the official notification of the appointment will be issued.
Earlier, President Arif Alvi had written a letter to Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Syed Tauqeer Hussain Shah demanding that his Principal Secretary Waqar Ahmed be removed and Humaira Ahmed should be made secretary.
The President said that he no longer needed the services of Waqar Ahmed and these services were immediately handed over to the Establishment Division.
President Arif Alvi’s secretary Waqar Ahmed has been removed from his post, the Aiwan-e-Sadr announced on its official Twitter handle.
Waqar Ahmad challenged the contention of President Alvi openly but the President has not offered any rejoinder on Waqar Ahmad’s response. The Press Secretary to the President was not available for his comments on the development.
Meanwhile, the sources said that no transfer and posting could be possible without permission of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after dissolution of the assemblies.
The massive transfers and postings made three days back including change of Chief Secretaries of the provinces and large reshuffling in the federal secretaries where about half a dozen senior officers were asked to report to Establishment Division.