LAHORE: Ultimately, Chief Secretary Zahid Akthar Zaman’s appointment of two BS-19 officers from the Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) to the chief minister’s office cost the Punjab Police two significant positions.
Former Lahore Deputy Commissioner Umar Sher has been assigned to the position of additional secretary law and order at the CM office, as per a notice released by the chief secretary here on Wednesday.
According to sources, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had expressed to the IGP her preference for the nomination of a female police officer to the position, particularly Lahore Investigation SSP Dr Anoosh Masood Chaudhry, in light of her performance in the cases pertaining to the May 9 riots.
Nevertheless, an official told Dawn that the chief secretary reportedly appointed a PAS officer as an additional secretary law and order due to the Punjab Police department’s lack of interest in the position.
The Punjab Police had previously held the positions.
Usman Tipu, a BS-18 police officer, previously held the position of SSP (law and order) (as an assistant secretary).
In a similar vein, he claimed that Mohammad Nouman Siddique, a second BS-19 PAS officer, was moved and assigned to the chief minister’s office as a personal staff officer (PSO), losing the department’s second significant role.According to the official, the Services & General Administration Department raised the PSO position to CM from BS-18 to BS-19 on Wednesday in order to “facilitate the PAS officer.”
The notification states, “Mohammad Nouman Siddique (PAS/BS-19), has been transferred, with immediate effect, and posted as Personal Staff Officer to Chief Minister Punjab against an existing vacancy, in partial modification of this department’s earlier notification issued on March 8, 2024.”
It further says that as long as Mr. Siddiqui holds the position, PSO to CM would continue to be elevated to BS-19.
