With the expected advent of the PML-N government bureaucrats posted by the caretaker government in Punjab are feeling insecure.
The officers obliged to the Sharifs have sprung into action once again doing their pick and choose exercise. This time officers inducted by the caretaker chief minister are in the line of fire.
The caretakers carried out a wholesale reshuffle in the bureaucracy when they assumed power to ensure a neutral administration during the elections. The officers posted included secretaries, DCOs, commissioners, RPOs and DPOs. The PML-N leaders never liked these transfers.
Interestingly, Nawaz Sharif won elections with a thumping majority right under their nose. Yet the top bureaucrats of Punjab are not happy with them and want to see their back at the earliest.
Probably, those officers who would not have listened to the instructions of Dr Tauqeer and others have reasons to feel insecure now.
The bureaucrats expect a massive reshuffle sooner than later. Some bigwigs from the Punjab too are expected to join the federal government. They are Nadeem Hasan Asif, former secretary to chief minister, Sami Saeed, former chairman P&D, Tariq Bajwa, secretary finance and Fawad Hasan Fawad. They are officers with long standing relations with the Sharifs.
Former chief secretary Nasir Khosa has already been appointed as principal secretary to the prime minister. He is busy with Dr. Tauqeer in firming up lists of officers to be posted in federal and Punjab governments in coming days. These are the officers most sought-after for the bureaucrats eying for better positions.
It is believed that the federal government in its reorganisation drive is more in need of loyal and trustworthy officers.
In the Punjab departments of local government, finance, home and health would need new secretaries soon along with placement of officers in districts on a huge level.
It will be interesting to see how the administrative teams of the Sharifs, both in the centre and provinces, take its final shape but this will not be achieved without giving some sleepless nights to the bureaucrats.
