KARACHI, Nov 9: In an apparent move to streamline functioning of various departments, the Sindh government has transferred and posted top-ranking officials of the education, agriculture, and Auqaf and Ushr departments.
Auqaf and Ushr Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Ali has been transferred and posted as secretary in the education department, replacing Sabhago Khan Jatoi who has been posted back in the agriculture department in the same capacity while Agriculture Secretary Mehkumuddin Quaderi has been transferred to the Auqaf and Ushr department.
Although the government claims it a routine matter of administration, insiders cited bad working relationship between Education Minister Dr Hameeda Khuhro and Secretary Sabhago Khan Jatoi as well as between Chief Minister’s Adviser on Agriculture Murtaza Jatoi and Secretary Mehkumuddin Quaderi as a major reason of these transfers.
They said Murtaza Jatoi and Sabhago Khan Jatoi, then agriculture secretary, enjoyed good understanding until a case was registered against the latter by the National Accountability Bureau for reportedly living beyond his means. Besides, the anti-corruption department had registered corruption cases and issued warrants of arrest against officials of the Market Committee of the New Sabzi Mandi following complaints of irregularities in the allotment of shops and auction of sheds. Sabhago Khan Jatoi was then transferred and posted as secretary in the education department.
Murtaza Jatoi was reportedly not happy with the new secretary of his department and was pressing the chief minister for replacing him with his predecessor Sabhago Khan Jatoi.
The situation in the education department was no different from that of agriculture department since Sabhago Khan Jatoi failed to develop a working relationship with education minister Dr Hameeda Khuhro, particularly on the matters of transfers, postings and new appointments of ad-hoc teachers in schools and colleges.
Disharmony was affecting the working of the department and the chief minister was under pressure from the education minister for transfer of the secretary.
The reason to bring Chaudhry Muhammad Ali as a new secretary in the education department is attributed to his amenable attitude. He had been serving as Mirpurkhas branch manager of Zarai Tarraqiati Bank until he was brought into the secretariat services by Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim as special secretary in Grade 20 with powers of the principal secretary. He was stated to be a close relation of Arbab Rahim.
He performed his duties as principal secretary to the chief minister till mid January this year when a row developed between his son and Chief Minister’s Special Assistant Malik Ayaz Gabol. After registration of an FIR at Ferozabad police station against Chaudhry Muhammad Ali’s son, the chief minister immediately transferred him from the Chief Minister’s House and refused to keep him in his set-up in any capacity.
The government agencies also came into action and started investigations into allegations of corruption and misuse of authority against him. But soon after managing understanding with the chief minister, reportedly through some power wielders in Islamabad, he was sent on a nine-month-long training and after returning from the training he was posted as secretary of the Auqaf and Ushr department.
