February 29, 2008	Friday	Safar 21, 1429

LAHORE, Feb 28: Expecting a massive reshuffle soon after the formation of the new provincial government, the administrative officers in Punjab posted by the PML-Q government of Pervaiz Elahi are exploring different means to survive in a different atmosphere.

The most worried are those who were given extension in service, or those who held key posts to advance the agenda of the PML-Q government. Their concerns have multiplied especially after the departure of Pervaiz Elahi's former principal secretary GM Sikandar to the federal government, the `voluntarily-sought’ premature retirement of IGP Ahmad Nasim, and reports that caretaker chief minister's principal secretary Yousaf Nasim Khokher too has gone abroad on an official tour.

There are officers who claim to be true professionals, saying it was their duty to implement the government policies and they will continue to do so for the next government in the province as well.

Unlike the majority, these handful officers are also waiting for the formulation of the government and link the `real change’ to the future of President Pervaiz Musharraf.

The transitory period has nevertheless slowed down work in the provincial civil secretariat and in districts where DCOs are the heads of administrative departments. The officials are reportedly either handling routine files or finding ways to adjust to the different set-up.

A number of officials Dawn talked to expected a major reshuffle in the provincial bureaucratic set-up even if no-one is victimised by the new government which apparently is going to be formed by the PML-N.

They expect new chief secretary, additional chief secretary, planning and development board chairman, senior member board of revenue, secretaries of the local government, home, health and finance departments. The officers on these posts are going to be changed even if the new government does not have any problem with them, they believe.

The officials link the future of Governor's Principal Secretary HasanWaseem Afzal, his wife Services Secretary Farkhanda Waseem Afzal and Auqaf Secretary Raees Abbas Zaidi to the future of Governor Khalid Maqbool.

Law Secretary Ahmad Farooq, who is a district and sessions judge, is leaving charge of his office on Friday (today) to be at the disposal of the Lahore High Court.

The situation in several other districts is not too different. The election results have put the future of many a DCOs, accused of working for the PML-Q before and during the election at stake.

They are worried and are jockeying to save their skins particularly if the government is formed by the PML-N.

They are allegedly approaching their friends and patrons in the PPP and PML-N ranks to avoid sidelining or action during the next government.

Officials say those employed on contract or given extension in service by the previous government fear the axe. Their number is nearly 300 and they include approximately 45 retired army officers.

Around 40 police officers were reemployed in BS-18 and above. One was in BS-21 and three in BS-20.