ISLAMABAD- In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Secretary of Inter-Provincial Coordination, Ahmed Hanif Orakzai, has been transferred from his position following a series of events involving the alleged violation of rules by Deputy Secretary Mr. Naseem Ahmed Khan Abbassi.
The matter, however, raises eyebrows as the Prime Minister’s Secretary, Khurram Agha, reportedly made significant decisions without informing the caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar Kakar. The controversy began with an Office Memorandum dated 23rd November 2023, revealing that Mr. Naseem Ahmed Khan Abbassi, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, had corresponded directly with an organizer of the SCO Forum 2023, seeking funding for the official visit to Urumqi, China.
This move, deemed a violation of Rule 56 of the Rules of Business, 1973, led to embarrassment for Pakistan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Despite the nomination of Mr. Abbassi and another officer for the SCO Forum, their intended self-financed travel plans were disrupted due to unavailability of bus services. Mr. Abbassi then requested air tickets from the government exchequer, a request not formally approved by the Secretary.
Subsequently, Mr. Abbassi directly contacted the event organizer through his private email, requesting funding for their travel. The controversy deepened as the Office Memorandum highlighted that despite clear orders from the Secretary, IPC, Mr. Abbassi continued corresponding, leading to the Ministry deeming his services “no more required.”
This decision was endorsed by the approval of Secretary MoIPC. What adds another layer to the situation is the transfer of Federal Secretary Ahmed Hanif Orakzai. The transfer, however, reportedly did not come to the attention of the Prime Minister, raising questions about the decision-making process within the government. Khurram Agha, the Prime Minister’s Secretary, has allegedly been making significant decisions without informing the Prime Minister, as evident from this case. The lack of transparency in such crucial matters raises concerns about the governance and decision-making processes at the highest levels.
As this story unfolds, it brings to light not only the alleged misconduct of a Deputy Secretary but also the broader issue of decision-making transparency within the government,
leaving many questioning the accountability and communication channels within key ministries. Decisions made by Khurram Agha without notifying the Prime Minister bring disgrace to the Prime Minister. Additionally, Khurram Agha has a poor reputation within the federal bureaucracy. Secretary Ahmed Hanif Orakzai exhibited excellent performance in the ministry.
However, he faced dislike from Prime Minister’s Secretary Khurram Agha. Normally, the prime minister issues a show-cause notice to the federal secretary, but Khurram Agha concealed this information from the prime minister.
