ISLAMABAD The federal government has named Kamran Lashari as petroleum secretary after the retirement of Mahmood Salim Mahmood. His posting was among a couple of transfers and postings the federal government announced on Wednesday.Mr Lashari previously worked for years as chairman of the Capital Development Authority during Gen Musharraf's government. He later served as chief commissioner of Islamabad before being posted as environment secretary about seven months ago.

In another reshuffle, the federal government transferred Nasir Mahmood Khosa, currently posted as chief secretary of Balochistan, and appointed him as chief secretary of Punjab in place of Javed Mahmood, who is entangled in a row after his car accidentally ran over a retired colonel last month.

Mr Khosa is a brother of the secretary of Narcotics Division, Tariq Mahmood Khosa, who was recently promoted to Grade-22 after his removal from the post of Director General of Federal Investigation Agency.

While hearing the Pakistan Steel Mills case, the Supreme Court had desired Tariq Khosa's reinstatement as the FIA DG, but the government did not oblige.

Mr Javed Mahmood has been transferred and allowed to stay with the Punjab government till further orders.

His official car had hit the former colonel while Mr Javed Mahmood was on his way to Lahore Airport last month to receive Prime Minister Gilani. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif had visited the residence of the deceased and advised the chief minister to remove Mr Javed as chief secretary.

The post of chief secretary was handed over to additional secretary Sami Saeed, a friend and confidant of Javed Mahmood, on current charge basis as Mr Mahmood went on leave to clear his name.

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