LAHORE, Dec 11: The transport secretary, an important player in the Lahore metro bus system arrangement, was changed along with some other senior officials here on Tuesday.

The transfer of Capt Muhammad Yousuf was a surprise for many in the government as he was considered very close to the chief minister so far as the bus service’s transport segment is concerned.

But what sources informed Dawn was contrary to the general assumptions. They said though the chief minister had been quite happy with the delivery potential of the officer yet he became angry with him some time ago.

They said the transfer of the secretary was being considered secretly for the past around two weeks. And his posting as P&D chief economist on Tuesday proved the chief minister’s displeasure as the post is considered a sidelined assignment.

The construction segment of the bus service is being handled by LDA under the supervision of Mr Sibtain Fazle Haleem, a retired civil servant, the ticketing by the Information Technology Department, and the bus import and operation segment by the Lahore Transport Company of Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan.

Meanwhile, BoR member (colonies) Wasim Mukhtar Chaudhry was posted as the new secretary (transport) in place of Mr Yousuf. Mr Chaudhry is close to the small but powerful group of bureaucrats in the province.

Earlier, he was given additional charge of the post of secretary (agriculture) after the incumbent Mian Mushtaq was removed last month for disallowing land of his department in Kala Shah Kaku for a road which he considered was not for the benefit of people.

Sahiwal Commissioner Qazi Muhammad Ashfaq was transferred and posted as BoR member (judicial).

He was replaced by Chief Minister’s Secretariat Additional Secretary Nabeel Ahmad Awan.

BoR member (judicial) Shamail Ahmad was also transferred and posted as BoR member (colonies).