PESHAWAR: Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, a grade-21 officer of Pakistan Administrative Service, was posted as chief secretary here on Tuesday.

He replaced Imdadullah Bosal, a grade-22 officer of PAS, who was transferred after serving as chief secretary for 50 days.

“Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, a BS-21 officer of PAS, presently posted as additional secretary at prime minister’s office, is transferred and posted as chief secretary, government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under section 10 of the Civil Servant Act, 1973, with immediate effect and until further orders,” states a notification issued by the federal government.

The outgoing chief secretary Imdadullah Bosal was posted as chief secretary of the province on Feb 1. However, sources said that he was transferred from the key position after resisting interference by JUI-F in the posting and transfer of the administrative secretaries and deputy commissioners.

They said he was under immense pressure after posting and transfer of secretaries, commissioners and DCs on Feb 16 for not accommodating the bureaucrats recommended by JUI-F.

Sources said that JUI-F leadership was not happy with the reshuffle and also complained to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after which some of the posting orders were withdrawn.

They said that transfer of administrative secretaries had also been pending for the last several days.

They added that the secretaries were also expecting their transfer anytime but it couldn’t happen owing to resistance by the outgoing chief secretary as he was not in favour of posting senior officers on recommendation of JUI-F.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2023