Firdous rejects reports linking Bushra Bibi to transfers in Punjab

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan said on Sunday there was no truth in reports linking First Lady Bushra Bibi to transfers of administrative officials in Punjab.

In a tweet on Sunday, Awan said it was unfortunate and condemnable to link the First Lady’s Pakpattan visit to administrative decisions of the government. She said the First Lady did not believe in protocol. Especially, she said, there was no question of asking for protocol at a sacred place like the shrine of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar.

Per the media reports, the First Lady paid a surprise visit to the shrine without protocol on February 22 and reviewed administrative affairs of the shrine. On her directions, the shrine administrator and Auqaf manager were made officers on special duty (OSDs) after they allegedly failed to manage administrative affairs of the shrine efficiently.

According to the notification issued on Friday, a number of other members of the staff deployed at the shrine were expelled from Pakpattan District for misbehaving with pilgrims and negligence from duty. In total, 28 officials and staff members were transferred from the district and posted in far-flung areas.