The federal government decided to replace Punjab’s top bureaucrat Maj (retd) Azam Suleman after Chief Minister Usman Buzdar complained that he neither followed nor gave importance to his directives.
According to 24NewsHD TV channel, Buzdar shared his grievances with Prime Minister Imran Khan at a meeting in Islamabad, the differences between the chief secretary and him were going on for quite some time.
Therefore, the prime minister approved the transfer on Thursday after the necessary orders were issued in haste.
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It is said the chief minister’s orders were mostly about the administrative matters which had been ignored. Thus, he had been trying to get him transferred for some time.
According to sources, Azam Suleman – who is a very influential bureaucrat – is unhappy with the government over the way he was removed from the post.
However, the federal government has decided to give him an important assignment at Centre and a notification on the subject would soon be issued.
Earlier on Thursday, the Establishment Division issued a notification which said Communications Division Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik had been transferred and posted as the head of Punjab bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, Azam Suleman was directed to report to the Establishment Division for further orders.
Jawad had earlier served in Punjab as secretary of C&W and local governments departments as well as Lahore commissioner.
Meanwhile, the move to transfer Azam Suleman has been challenged in the Punjab High Court with an argument that the prime minister could not interfere in the provincial matters and use his powers while keeping in mind the restrictions imposed by the Constitution.
Claiming that the notification was issued without consulting the chief minister, the petition also said that the new top bureaucrat will set new policies which were going to affect different matters negatively, including the fight against coronavirus.