Punjab, Centre at odds over transfer of bureaucrats

LAHORE: The Punjab government is at odds with the Centre over some transfers and has not relieved two public officers for duties sought by the federal government, Geo News reported Saturday, citing sources.

The provincial government has requested the federal government to take it into confidence before transferring a public officer, said the sources. The Establishment Division posted DIG Operations Lahore Syed Nasir Ali Rizvi, a Grade 20 officer, as Islamabad inspector general on March 29. But despite the passage of nine days of the appointment of Islamabad IG, the federal capital is without a police chief. Former IG Police Akbar Nasir Khan, who was replaced on March 30, had relinquished the charge. While Nasir Rizvi has not yet joined duty as he has not been relieved by the Punjab government, no DIG has been made the temporary IGP.

Sources said Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has refused to let go Rizvi and also stopped Communications and Works Department Secretary Suhail Ashraf from reporting to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who served as Punjab’s interim chief minister and also holds the portfolio of Interior Ministry, had reportedly sought the services of Ashraf for the board.

Important projects are going on and, therefore, the C&W secretary cannot be transferred right away, the sources quoted the Punjab government as saying. They said the matter of transfer of officers would be sorted out in consultation with the federation after Eid-ul-Fitr.