PESHAWAR/KHAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa establishment department took a month to formally transfer three assistant political agents (APAs), whose earlier transfer by Fata Secretariat was termed illegal.

The establishment department on Wednesday announced to transfer Rahimullah, APA Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency, Niaz Mohammad APA Wana, South Waziristan, Kamran Khan, APA Lower Kurram and Tariq Hassan, APA Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar.

Earlier on December 19, Fata Secretariat had announced to transfer three of the APAs including Rahimullah, Niaz Mohammad and Kamran Khan. However, the establishment department objected to the transfers, saying it didn’t fall in the Fata Secretariat’s domain as transfer of BPS-17 officers was prerogative of chief secretary.

A senior government official said that Fata Secretariat acted beyond its jurisdiction to transfer the officials. He said that Fata Secretariat was not even authorised to transfer tehsildars, posted in tribal agencies, as commissioner of the adjacent division of the province ordered their transfer and postings within the division.

Earlier order of Fata Secretariat termed illegal by establishment dept

The official said that postings outs of division were notified by the provincial Board of Revenue. He said that transfer and postings of BPS-17 officials was the prerogative of the provincial chief secretary while governor was the authority to transfer officials of BPS-18 and above in Fata.

The official said that following the announcement of transfers of APAs, the establishment department informed Fata Secretariat about the illegality of its action after which it cancelled the orders.

Earlier in July last year, the Standing Committee of Senate on States and Frontier Regions (Safron) had declared appointment of political agents of Kurram, Khyber, Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, made on February 9, illegal as the then chief secretary made the transfers when the seat of the governor was vacant following the resignation of Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan.

Following the committee’s report, the governor granted retrospective approval to the appointment on August 2, which was later withdrawn on August 6.

In Bajaur, the appointment of a political tehsildar has become a bone of contention between the officials of Fata Secretariat and Malakand commissioner.

Sources said that the post of political tehsildar in Khar was vacant owing to differences between additional chief secretary of Fata Secretariat and Malakand commissioner over the issue.

They said that Malakand commissioner rejected a nominee for the said post, recommended by the additional chief secretary, saying appointment of political tehsildar was his authority. They said that Malakand commissioner appointed Younas Khan as new political tehisldar four days ago but he was transferred just two days after his posting.

The local people have shown concern over frequent transfers of political tehisldars, saying it affected routine work in Khar.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2017