In what appear to be efforts by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar to prove his mettle as a good administrator amid severe criticism over a number of things, it has emerged that new records were set within the past two and a half years as the provincial chief executive struggled to constitute the best team.
Soon after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came to power in 2018, Buzdar was handed reins of Punjab by Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan despite reservations expressed by several allies of the premier.
“He will prove to be the best Punjab has ever had,” PM Imran said while defending Buzdar time and again, especially amid criticism aimed at the newcomer over his lack of experience, unpopular decisions, and as the masses drew comparisons between Buzdar and his predecessor, Shehbaz Sharif.
Two and a half years since his election, it has emerged that CM Buzdar set a new record, but it might not exactly be for what you think or could have expected…
He became the first provincial chief executive to have made the most number changes to his team in no time, the details of which are as follows:
FOUR CHIEF SECRETARIES:
Jawad Rafique Malik (April 2020 – Present)
Azam Suleman (5 Months 3 Days)
Yousaf Naseem Khokhar (13 Months 24 Days)
Akbar Durrani (3 Months & 19 Days)
SIX INSPECTOR GENERALS (IGs):
Inam Ghani (September 2020 – Present)
Shoaib Dastagir (9 Months 10 Days)
Arif Nawaz (7 Months 11 Days)
Amjad Javed Saleemi (6 Months 2 Days)
Tahir Khan (1 Month 4 Days)
Kaleem Imam (2 Months 28 Days)
OTHERS:
Besides over a dozen transfers and postings among secretaries of different Punjab departments, the other prominent officials sent packing included those serving in the provincial capital and CM Buzdar’s hometown Dera Ghazi (DG) Khan.
DG KHAN CHIEF COMMISSIONERS:
Dr Irshad Ahmed (Incumbent)
Tahir Khurshid
Muddassir Riaz
Asadullah Faiz
Naseem Sadiq
Sajid Zafar
LAHORE COMMISSIONERS:
Asif Bilal Lodhi (Second Appointment)
Mujtaba Paracha
Saif Anjum
This, however, isn’t where it all ends.
According to sources, major changes in Punjab are once again on the cards and Primary and Secondary Health Secretary Capt (r) Muhammad Usman is likely to be made Lahore commissioner soon.
While the chief secretary and the IG could also be replaced, reports regarding Buzdar’s own dismissal have been rebutted by both Centre and the Punjab CM himself.
Speaking to Geo News, Buzdar said rumours of his removal went rife every once in a while. “There is no truth to rumours of my removal [as CM Punjab],” he said, adding that the main objective of these rumours was to stop development work in the province.
He said that the Punjab Assembly and “his leader” — Prime Minister Imran Khan — had complete confidence in his abilities as the province’s chief executive.
“I am staying here and will continue to serve the people of Punjab,” he said. “We are governing Punjab transparently; not even a single corruption case has been exposed,” he added.
