LAHORE: For the first time since assuming power, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has decided to change his political and administrative team in the province without consulting the federal government.

According to sources in the CM house, in past Mr Buzdar would have to first consult the federal government to bring any change to his political and administrative team. But now the CM has decided to change his team by just informing the federal government.

The sources said the CM had decided to change his team after holding meetings in different areas of the province. He had recently held meetings in the CM house, visited different districts, including DG Khan and Multan, where he held meetings with politicians and public and heard their problems.

‘Decision made on public concerns’

He said the CM was holding meetings and interacting with 500 to 600 people from different areas of the province on a daily basis. He was getting reports from the public about the performance of his team on different matters. The visitors include different political personalities, civil society members, educationists and the public. Although he is also getting reports from the special branch, intelligence agencies and other departments, he has decided to give weight to public concerns.

He said the CM had decided to reshuffle and bring changes in his team on the basis of these public hearings. “The CM may leave for Islamabad on Monday (today) morning to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan to let him know the decisions he has taken,” he said.

He said previously appointments against higher posts in the province were made by the federal government but this time Mr Buzdar had finalised the changes without consulting the federal government.

He said since the CM had taken the decisions on his own, he would be responsible for their outcome as well.

He said the chief secretary, inspector-general (IG) Punjab and other administrative officers were likely to be replaced in a day or two while adding some heavy weights in the provincial cabinet would also be reshuffled and some new faces could join the cabinet as well.

The source said the CM had already changed 10 deputy commissioners and district police officers recently.

Buzdar, it is learnt, has finalised three names each for the new chief secretary and IGP for submission to the PM for appointing any of them.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2021