Posting of junior officers at key posts not against law: minister

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan has said posting of junior officers at key posts, including Secretary to the Prime Minister, were not against the law.

Replying to a point of public importance, raised by Senator Moula Bux Chandio in the Senate regarding posting of junior officers at the key positions and frequent shuffling in the federal bureaucracy, he said it was not true that Azam Khan’s appointment as Secretary to the Prime Minister has been against the law and rules.

He had been working in Grade 21 since 2015 and his promotion to BPS-22 was due. He had served on his last post for two consecutive years and his all ACRs (annual career reviews) were good while he required three out of six ACRs good for promotion to next grade, the minister added.

Ali Muhammad said such a precedent already occurred as the secretary to former prime minister was also in Grade 21 at the time of his appointment and he was later promoted to BPS-22.

He said Azam Khan had served as Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the time when several incidents of terrorism were happened and even in his own native town some 45 civilians, including a member of the provincial assembly, were killed. Azam Khan played an important role as Chief Secretary for restoration of law and order in the province, he added.

The minister also briefed the Senate about the functions and responsibilities of the Secretary to the Prime Minister.