Pirzada resigns over bureaucratic interference

KARACHI: The constant interference in his ministry and the surprising suspension of the Director General of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera forced the federal minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Hussain Pirzada to tender his resignation on Friday.

“I have sent my resignation to the Prime Minister. I am in office today and from May 2, I will not come to office,” Pirzada told reporters.

In his resignation letter, Pirzada pointed out the obstructions he had to face during his tenure as the federal minister.

“I have developed some reservations which I would like to bring to your kind notice. During this current tenure despite repeated requests for a personal audience the opportunity was denied,” Pirzada wrote to the Prime Minister. A copy of the letter is available with this correspondent.

“This adversely reflected on the working of my ministry since the envisioned progressive initiatives could not be implemented,” he wrote.

“There has been a continuous interference in my ministry and affiliated departments by your Principal Secretary. This suggests either a lack of confidence in my abilities or a loss of faith and trust. This has not only distressed me but also clipped my powers as is said ‘clip the wings of a bird and ask it to fly’,” he wrote.

“Under the circumstances it has become impossible to continue. A resignation at this point might be an embarrassment. Therefore my humble request is to kindly relieve me of my duties as a Federal Minister,” Pirzada wrote.

“Here I would like to stress that being a political worker my services and sincerity remain with you,” the minister wrote.

Pirzada on Friday also met the officials of his ministry and the PSB.

It is pertinent to mention here that the IPC minister is also the constitutional president of the PSB.

Pirzada lashed at out the Secretary Establishment and Principal Secretary of the Prime Minister. “These people think that here a lot of money would come and by installing their own people they would devour the whole funds. They should be ashamed of the fact that they suspended Ganjera without any such charges. The Secretary Establishment and Principal Secretary of the PM are themselves under corruption charges of billions of rupees and they charge others that they are involved in corruption,” Pirzada told reporters.

“I am a straightforward person and I will protect my subordinate at any cost,” the minister said.

“I was about to leave politics and now if I had to struggle I will do that. Today is my last day in office,” Pirzada added.

Meanwhile, sources said that the leading people of the government had assured Pirzada that his reservations would be conveyed to the Prime Minister when he returned from Okara.

“Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafiq contacted Pirzada today. They assured the minister that the PM would be informed and the things would be rectified,” a source close to the development told this correspondent.

Pirzada was also not happy when the government constituted a committee for transfer of the approved fund of around Rs24 million to world silver flyweight champion Mohammad Waseem. A source close to Pirzada said that the minister was of the view that forming a committee for the purpose was distrust shown by the federal government in the efficiency of the IPC Ministry and the PSB.

Ganjera was suspended on Wednesday for three months for unknown charges. The Establishment Division took the decision on the instructions of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat. Ganjera received the suspension order on Thursday.

Pakistan’s sports received this double blow at a time when the PSB is going to hold the Inter-Provincial Games from May 5-9 and is preparing to send a full-fledged national contingent to Baku for the Islamic Games to be held from May 12-22.

The suspension and the resignation forced the organisers to postpone the Inter-Provincial Games till October on Friday.