ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: Major reshuffle is expected in the capital administration in a next few days as the government has shown “displeasure” with the performance of some top officials during the Lal Masjid operation, sources told Dawn on Sunday.
The sources said the government had decided to replace the top officials in the administration and capital police, but the decision had not been made public as the government had so far not found suitable replacements in the bureaucracy.
Those who are likely to be removed are: Chief Commissioner Khalid Pervez, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chaudhry Iftikhar and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shahid Nadeem Baloch.
The sources said all the three officials had submitted their requests to the Establishment Division seeking transfer, long leave or nomination for special courses for specialisation in their specific fields.
They said the IGP had asked the government to send him on any course, while the chief commissioner was reportedly interested in availing a long leave.
However, the policymakers have different opinions about the services of the top officials in the local administration and the police, as some favour continuation of their services while others are for their immediate replacement.
Another source in Prime Minister’s Secretariat said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and some of his cabinet members were quite annoyed at the mishandling of the situation when Lal Masjid was reopened for Friday prayers on July 27 after 25 days of closure.
A pitched battle between police and supporters of the de facto administration of the Lal Masjid was witnessed, which was followed by a suicide attack at Aabpara market that killed 14 people and injured over 60 others.
The source said the prime minister had also questioned why Lal Masjid was reopened before removal of the Jamia Hafsa rubble and why the local administration and police failed to assess the sentiments of residents of Sector G-6, who refused to accept Maulana Mohammad Ashfaq as new Imam and change of mosque’s colour from red to beige.
When contacted, Chief Commissioner Islamabad Khalid Pervez confirmed that he had sent a request to the Establishment Division for his transfer. “I was appointed as chief commissioner in Islamabad on deputation from Punjab and I have almost completed my tenure here,” he said.
The official rejected the reports that he had submitted any request to the government for availing long leave.
Interior Secretary gets extension: The tenure of service of Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, who was to be retired after two weeks, has been extended for one year.
According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division, Mr Shah, serving as interior secretary for the past two-and-a-half years, has been given extension on the request of the interior ministry prior to the maturity of his retirement date.
Mr Shah, an officer of the police group, was going to be retired on July 17.
According to the notification, the tenure of his service had been extended from Aug 17, 2007 till Aug 17, 2008.