KP CM, chief secretary at loggerheads over administrative matters

The already tense and uncertain situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa further complicated the political environment when the chief minister and the chief secretary disagreed over the disposal of important administrative matters including summaries and files under the existing mechanism.

Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and the chief secretary appeared to be at loggerheads over summaries and administrative files being sent to the former through the latter.

The secretaries of various departments are reluctant to do the task they are given to perform.

Sources said the chief minister issued a notification to all his cabinet members to refer directly all summaries and administrative files containing appointments, postings, transfers and other administrative issues to him instead of the chief secretary.

This move infuriated the chief secretary who in turn issued a notification to the secretaries to send all administrative files and summaries according to the existing mechanism through him, the sources said. The administration secretary is upset over the issuance of two notifications simultaneously, one by the chief minister and other by the chief secretary.

The sources said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central leadership is active to end differences between the chief minister and the chief secretary. In this respect hobnobbing amongst high-level figures are in progress in Islamabad and Peshawar.

This is not the first time that a high-level official has been in trouble with the chief minister.

Earlier, CCPO Liaquat Ali, Home Secretary Azam Khan, and IGP Ihsan Ghani have had problems with Khattak.

The sources said Peshawar CCPO Muhammad Ali Babakhel had also had differences with the chief minister over the law and order.

Khattak had asked Babakhel to take action against criminals. However, Babakhel declined and went on a leave instead.

The appointment of a new CCPO is also lingering and drawing criticism. The sources said none of the police officials is willing to take responsibilities in view of the existing law and order in the provincial capital.