Govt yet to decide on new interior secretary

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is yet to decide on the final name for the new Federal Secretary of Interior who will succeed Aftab Akbar Durrani, who retired on Wednesday (March 27).

The Establishment Division had already issued a notification on the retirement of Aftab Akbar Durrani, a BPS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS). However, neither any summary had been moved to the prime minister for the appointment of the new secretary of interior, a key post in a situation when the country is facing a new wave of terrorism, nor any decision taken in this regard.

Sources said the prime minister wants to appoint a man of his choice from senior bureaucrats whereas Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi desires to see Inspector General of Police (IGP), Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, a BPS-21 officer of Police Service, on this important post. Regarding Naqvi’s choice, there are serious reservations among officers in the National Police Academy and Federal Investigation Agency who are senior to Dr Usman Anwar. There are also chances that Special Secretary Interior Nadeem Mahboob will get the charge.