LAHORE: Punjab Home Secretary Azam Suleman Khan is likely to be appointed additional chief secretary home to head the entire criminal justice system in the province, despite his promotion to BS-22, for continuity of war on terror.

Additional Chief Secretary Shamail Ahmed Khwaja is too being retained by Punjab, by upgrading the BS-21 post to BS-22 “personal to him”.

Both the home secretary and the ACS were promoted to BS-22 a few days ago and they were expected to be recalled by the federal government for their posting against slots matching their new grades. Their repatriation was also expected at least to actualise their promotion even if they were to return to Punjab.

Official sources informed Dawn on Wednesday that the provincial government was retaining both the officials. The post of ACS was being upgraded, personal to Mr Khwaja, they said.

To justify the stay of Mr Azam Suleman Khan, his post was being re-framed as additional chief secretary home in BS-22. There would be no home secretary.

Mr Khan would head the entire criminal justice system including police and security, prosecution department, prisons, Rescue 1122 and Civil Defence, acting as the focal person for the provincial government’s efforts to improve overall law and order and fight terrorism.

It may be mentioned here that the authorities had also refrained from changing Mr Khan a year ago so as to continue with the efforts to effectively combat terrorism and to modernise police and its wings.

“He has three-year institutional memory of the subject. The government has decided not to change the commander at a time when it is going to hunt down terrorists in league with Rangers,” a senior official said.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017