PM office withdraws orders for appointment of IRSA chief

ISLAMABAD: Following a protest lodged by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has withdrawn orders for the appointment of Zafar Mahmood as Chairman of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA).

The Prime Minister’s office has issued a notification to withdraw the appointment of Zafar Mahmood, a retired BS-22 officer of the federal government as IRSA Chairman.

“The orders issued by PM Office dated March 12, 2024, for appointment of Zafar Mahmood, a retired BS-22 officer of the Federal Government as IRSA Chairman may be treated as withdrawn,” the notification said.

PPP parliamentarian Syed Naveed Qamar, on a point of order in the National Assembly on Wednesday, had objected to the promulgation of an ordinance by the caretaker government according to which the prime minister was authorized to appoint the IRSA chief.

The PPP member said that previously, the IRSA chairman used to be appointed by the federal government. He urged the federal government to withdraw the controversial ordinance.

The official sources said that on the directives of the prime minister, the ordinance promulgated by the caretaker government would also stand withdrawn.

Also, the federal government has repatriated Muhammad Shahzad, a BS-20 officer of Information Group, presently serving as Joint Secretary (Public) at the Prime Minister’s Office on a deputation basis, to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Muhammad Nabeel Afzal, a BS-19 officer of the Inland Revenue Service, currently posted as Director HR in the National Accountability Bureau, has been appointed Joint Secretary Public (BPS-20).