ISLAMABAD: The transfer of Additional Deputy Commissioner (general) Islamabad Omer Liaquat Randhawa has become an issue between the Interior Ministry and Establishment Division.

According to a notification issued on July 7 by Establishment Division, ADC Randhawa was asked to report to the Establishment Division after relinquishing the charge.

But he did not relinquish the charge on the advice of one of the most senior officers of the interior ministry, sources said.

A letter written to him by a section officer of the Cabinet Secretariat, Establishment Division, stated: “You were transferred and directed to report to Establishment Division vide this Division’s notification dated July 7, 2020. You were required to immediately relinquish charge and report to Establishment Division but you neither relinquished charge nor reported to Establishment Davison.”

It added: “You are, therefore, called upon to explain your position regarding non-compliance of above orders within two days from the issuance of this letter failing which disciplinary proceedings under the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules 1973 shall be initiated against you.”

But the deputy secretary of the Interior Ministry, said the sources, wrote a letter to the secretary Establishment Division requesting him to withdraw the transfer order of the ADC saying it was issued without prior consultation of the ministry and that the officer had been directed by the ministry not to relinquish the charge.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2020