LAHORE: Punjab Chief Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal has written a letter to the federal government to withdraw is services with immediate effect.

The letter was addressed to Establishment Secretary Inamullah Khan said his services should be withdrawn from Punjab and handed over to the Cabinet Division.

The chief secretary said that transfers should be based on performance and not on political changes. “I cannot become a rubber stamp just to sign on transfer orders,” he said.

Afzal had also requested his transfer during former Punjab chief minister Hamza Shahbaz’s tenure. He was notably absent in Punjab cabinet meetings and during the swearing-in ceremony of the provincial ministers.

Afzal was appointed in September 2021 when Usman Buzdar was chief minister. He was the fifth Punjab chief secretary during the three years of the previous PTI-led government.

Over 50 officers of the Punjab bureaucracy have been shuffled since Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi came to power.  On July 22, the Punjab government appointed Faisal Shahkar as Inspector General (IG) shortly after Rao Sardar Ali Khan refused to continue serving.

On July 27, hours after Pervaiz Elahi took oath as chief minister Punjab, the federal government removed CCPO Lahore Bilal Siddique Kamyana.

The deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners of some districts have also been changed. CPO Faisalabad Ali Nasir Rizvi was removed from his post and Umar Saeed was appointed in his place.

Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Nabil Awan has been replaced by Muhammad Khan Bhatti. DG Lahore Development Authority has also been reportedly changed.

Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Syed Ali Murtaza has been made officer on special duty (OSD) hours after his appointed. Additional Chief Secretary Home Capt (retd) Asadullah Khan has been given additional charge.

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