ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister Office on Monday transferred Secretary Law Barrister Zafarullah Khan as a special assistant to the prime minister on parliamentary affairs.

Attorney General Salman Aslam Butt, according to sources, wasn’t happy with the law secretary’s role in the ministry, and was pushing for his transfer.

“The two couldn’t develop trustworthy relationship. Considering the nature of their jobs, they literally needed to work hands-in-glove with each other,” a government functionary confided to Dawn.

The position of a federal secretary is far more powerful than the special assistant to the prime minister, commented one of Mr Khan’s fellow secretaries.

Mr Butt, a Lahore-based senior Supreme Court lawyer, had in the past represented the Sharif family in courts, hence enjoyed special rapport particularly with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

Soon after Mr Butt was appointed as the attorney general (AG) in January this year, a turf war ensued between him and the secretary law. Mr Butt, according to government sources, sought more independence but had to bank on the secretary law for his input on many issues.

Their confrontation came to head in September this year when Mr Butt using his influence with the prime minister got approval for the purchase of a 2400cc Mercedes-Benz car for his official use to which, as the principal accounting officer, the secretary law objected.

As per the practice, the AG was only entitled to a 1800CC car. As a result, the AG was denied the new vehicle for which he blamed the secretary.

Meanwhile, sources told Dawn that the two also locked horns over the appointment of junior law officers in each other’s offices.

When contacted, Mr Khan downplayed his differences with the attorney general, saying: “I joined the civil services of Pakistan in the District Management Group (DMG) in 1987 and resigned in 2002. I am happy to be given a new role where I personally believe I can contribute more towards reforms which the prime minister wants to have to provide speedy justice at the grassroots level.”

Before his appointment as the secretary after the PML-N came to power, Mr Khan was practicing as a Supreme Court lawyer.

Mr Khan, who authored many books on law and civil society and acquired extensive education both in the country and abroad, said he was happy with his new assignment, and looking forward to working in close proximity with the Prime Minister Office.

Despite repeated attempts, Mr Butt could not be contacted for comments.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2014