ISLAMABAD: The federal government appointed Hamza Shafqaat, an officer of a powerful group of bureaucracy, as the new deputy commissioner (DC) of Islamabad.
A notification said that Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat, an acting BS-19 officer of the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) currently posted in Establishment Division (ED) as the deputy secretary, would be posted as the deputy commissioner for the Islamabad Capital Territory with immediate effect.
On the other hand, the incumbent deputy commissioner will be part of the National Highway Division. “Mustaq Ahmed, a BS-19 officer of PAS presently posted as the deputy commissioner, is transferred and his services are placed at the disposal of Communications Division for further posting in the National Highway Authority with immediate effect and until further orders,” read the notification.
Hamza Shafqaat has served in various roles at the Capital Development Authority, ICT and the Establishment Division due to close links with the 15 common officers of PAS. Former Establishment Division secretary Maroof Afzal has given the charge of the joint secretary to Shafqaat.
It is pertinent to mention here that three names including that of Hamza Shafqaat had emerged for the post of the deputy commissioner as the caretaker government had instructed interior division to make transfer and postings in the federal capital before the general elections. The others names were Muhammad Ali and Asim Ayab.
