CM Punjab admits making changes in food department on political basis

The additional report on the wheat scandal issued by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) contains evidence against Punjab Chief Minister Usman Bazar that made changes in the Food department.

According to the report, the secretaries stated that they made frequent changes in the department on the orders of the chief executive. Even the changes were made through verbal orders of Usman Buzdar.

Moreover, Usman Buzdar himself admitted to the FIA of making specific changes in the Food department during the inquiry of agencies’ investigative committee. One of the secretaries of the department told the FIA ​​investigative committee that several officers through the chief minister’s office’s verbal orders got their transfers.

During the inquiry, the chief minister himself admitted that he was in touch with political figures who approached him in the transfer of the officers.

Most transfers and appointments were made on the requests of the respective secretaries; some political appointments were also made, but before executing any decision, the Special Branch was also taken into the confidence.

The seven months’ governance under Buzdar had transferred a total four secretaries in the Food Department from April to November during the last year.

The report states that except for Naseem Sadiq, these four secretaries made huge appointments in the District Food Controllers (DFCs). One of these securities last year in March deployed 35 DFCs in the department. Another secretary was involved in deploying nine Deputy Directors and 32 DFCs.

On the other hand, secretaries Shaukat Ali and Zafar Nasrullah have claimed that from 11th December 2018 to 7th December 2019 the concerned authorities restricted all the transfer during this period.

According to the secretaries, appointments were made only with the approval of the chief minister, a secretary also revealed that some of the DFCs were removed from their destination on political grounds and on the basis of poor performance.

Secretary Zafar Nasrullah also cited administrative reasons for the changes made in the department. However, he also admitted that the summons for the deployment was prepared on verbal orders from the Chief Minister’s Office.

According to the report, there was no summary submitted regarding the appointment of all four secretaries, nether there was any reason mentioned for the transfer of the secretaries in the food department.

All summaries for conversion and deployment were made under the concerned authorities. It is also mentioned in the report that this situation has been affirmed by former and current Chief Secretaries.