LAHORE, Nov 13: In yet another major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Punjab government on Thursday changed over 10 officials, including Secretary Services Fawad Hasan Fawad and Local Government Secretary Khwaja Muhammad Naeem.

Mr Fawad played a major role in the recreation of divisional commissioners and their appointment. Similarly, Khwaja Naeem, who is brother-in-law of PML-N hawk MNA Khwaja Asif, had also been considered an important secretary who designed the PML-N version of the local government system to replace of the existing one given by the Musharraf regime.

Mr Fawad has been posted as Communication and Works secretary in place of Mr Jalal Sikandar Sultan who is posted as secretary services, whereas Khwaja Naeem awaits his new assignment.

The transfers came as a surprise to the provincial bureaucracy because both Mr Fawad and Mr Khwaja had been considered the most influential officials in Punjab after the chief secretary and the additional chief secretary.

Mr Jalal Sikandar Sultan is stated to be the son-in-law of chief minister’s chief adviser on administration Saeed Mehdi. He is considered a good officer but his posting is being attributed to the influence of Mr Mehdi.

Meanwhile, Cooperative Secretary Mirza Suhail Aamir was transferred and posted as Local Government Secretary vice Khwaja Naeem.

Mr Mirza was also relieved of the additional charge of the posts of Literacy and Non-formal Basic Education Department secretary, and Cooperatives Societies registrar.

Management and Professional Development Secretary Ms Rashida Malik has been given additional charge of the posts of Cooperatives department secretary, and Cooperatives Societies registrar.

Inter-provincial Coordination Secretary Maj Zulqernain Aamir (retired) was given additional charge of the post of Literacy and Non-formal Basic Education secretary.

Local Government Director General Tahir Hussain was transferred and posted as Local Government special secretary.

Communication and Works Secretary Hassan Nasir Jamy was made an OSD.

He was replaced by OSD Syed Rizwan Mahboob.

Home Department Additional Secretary Khalid Mahmood Chaudhry was transferred and posted as Kasur EDO (Finance and Planning), while an OSD, Muzaffar Khan, has been posted as Kasur DO (Coordination).

S&GAD’s Deputy Secretary (Establishment) Shahid Mehmood Adil was posted as Communication and Works deputy secretary. He was replaced by OSD Ms Shan Aman Rana.— Intikhab Hanif