Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has appointed Sohail Ahmed on Monday as Secretary, Narcotics Control, with immediate effect. Sources in Establishment Division said the former Establishment Secretary has been asked to join Narcotics Control as Secretary.
He had earlier been made Officer on Special Duty (OSD) after he had issued a notification ordering the transfer of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Inspector-General of Police Hussain Asghar back to the FIA as Director, after the directives from the apex court. Sohail had reportedly re-appointed Hussain Asghar to the FIA without the permission of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. The Supreme Court had declared the government notification making Sohail Ahmed OSD null and void and ordered his reinstatement within seven days.
In another development, Establishment Division has called meeting of Central Selection Board (CSB) to discuss the promotion of joint secretaries belonging to various occupational groups amid shifting of ministries under 18th Constitutional Amendment. Sources in Cabinet Division said that in the wake of 18th Constitutional Amendment, assurance was given to senior bureaucrats that their promotion, seniority and other privileges would not be affected.
The government has 30 joint secretaries in grade 20, working on various governmental assignments. They all are eligible for promotion to next grade. With the shifting of 17 ministries and attached departments to provinces, the promotional aspect of these bureaucrats becomes bleak. Sources said that around 7 posts were available in grade 21 for the promotion of 30 joint secretaries. Majority of them belong to District Management Group and Police Group.
The promotion of Inspector General Police Sindh, Wajid Ali Durani would also be considered in the up coming board meeting. In principle, the government has agreed to elevate him to grade 22. Presently, he is in grade 21. In a recent meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Secretary Nargis Sathi informed the members of the committee that all tangible issues relating to the services would be taken up at the Council of Common Interests (CCI) for amicable solution as far as the provinces are concerned.