The Sindh government Thursday (today) removed Karachi Commissioner Asif Hyder Shah from his position and posted in his place a relatively junior bureaucrat, widely known for his close association with the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
In a notification signed by Sindh Chief Secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon, Shah has been asked to report to the Services, General Administration & Coordination Department “with immediate effect”.
A notification issued by the Sindh chief secretary says: “Syed Asif Hyder Shah, an officer of Pakistan Administrative Services (BS-20), commissioner, Hyderabad division, is transferred and posted with immediate effect and until further orders as commissioner, Karachi division, vice Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui transferred and directed to report to services, general administration & coordination department.”
Usually, a senior officer in grade-21 is given the responsibility of Karachi commissioner. However, Shah is a grade-20 officer while his immediate predecessor, Siddiqui, is a senior grade-21 officer.
The decision irked the main opposition party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which not only gave it an ethnic colour but also accused the PPP of misusing routine transfer and posting as a tool to influence indirect local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad districts.
The Sindh government has not relieved Shah of his responsibilities in Sindh’s second-largest city, as he would continue to hold the post of Hyderabad commissioner “in addition to his own duties till further orders”.
The sudden removal of Siddiqui from the post of Karachi commissioner had raised many eyebrows as he enjoyed a good reputation in political and social circles.
Shah is a son-in-law of the late former Sindh chief minister Abdullah Shah whose son, Syed Murad Ali Shah, is the provincial finance minister and an important figure in the ruling PPP.
I think there is a mistake here. Qaim Ali Shah was to be removed!
He was removed because Zardari got a greater boli in auction for this post.
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