March 05, 2008	Wednesday	Safar 26, 1429

KARACHI, March 4: Former chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim got five chief secretaries changed during his tenure as chief minister from 2004 to 2008.

The chief secretaries who were eased out from the province due to differences with the chief minister were Dr Mutawakkil Qazi, Aslam Sanjrani, Fazlur Rehman, Shakil Durrani and Aijaz Qureshi.

The differences between the chief executive and the chief secretaries were based reportedly on deviation from rules and regulations, insiders told Dawn.

When asked about the reason for transfer of the education secretary, Chaudhry Mohammad Ali, who was given the assignment recently, in hurry and to report to the federal government the sources recalled the entire episode how an employee of the Zarai Taraqiati Bank Ltd was inducted into the Sindh government and how his absorption in the secretariat group was effected in violation of the rules.

Pointing out that a major reason of the transfer of five chief secretaries was the issue of absorption of Mohammad Ali in BPS -20 in the secretariat group of Sindh.

Mohammad Ali, who was a regional manager of the ZTB at Sukkur, was brought on deputation for three years and posted as additional secretary in BPS-19 in July 2004 at the chief minister’s secretariat. Later, on a directive of the chief minister he was given assignment as special secretary (implementation).

Soon after, the sources said, the chief minister directed the chief secretary to absorb him in the Sindh government, which is possible only under Rule 9-A of the Sindh Civil Servants Rules (appointment, promotion and transfer) 1973.

Under the rule, a person rendered surplus on account of the abolition of a post in any office or department of the government, any autonomous body or on account of permanent taking over by the government, may be appointed to any post.

The absorption of Mohammad Ali did not fall under the rule and as such it was not recommended by the chief secretary. Besides, the sources said the post of secretary in BPS-20 is meant for officers of DMG, ex-PCS and PSS.

The incumbent chief secretary was transferred earlier as he had opposed the absorption of Mr Ali in the summary submitted to the chief minister pointing out that “his absorption was not only in total violation of the rules but tantamount to misuse of authority, which may attract the provision of the new accountability laws.

“Such an absorption has never taken place in this grade and should not be allowed at all being totally against the rules.”

However, the chief minister in exercising his discretionary powers under Section 26 of the Sindh Civil Servants Act 1973 ordered the absorption of Mohammad Ali and posted him as secretary for Zakat and Ushr and secretary for education, Sindh.This was the first case since the SCS Act 1973 that a non-cadre official was absorbed directly in the BPS -20 which was resented by officials of DMG and ex-PCS cadre affecting the efficiency of the government.

Insiders also say that his hurried transfer from Sindh to the federal government was caused by an incident which took place in the Sindh assembly on the occasion of the last senate election, when a few MPAs were roughed up by members of some government agencies on the reported instructions of the special secretary to the chief minister. With the emergence of the PPP as the majority party in the Sindh assembly in the February 2008 elections, Mr Ali naturally smelled trouble. He, therefore, preferred to be transferred away than to stay on and face unpleasant situation and likely reopening of his absorption issue.

Now he has been replaced by Shafiq Khoso and asked to report to the federal government.—Habib Khan Ghori