ISLAMABAD  - The federal government is likely to remove Secretary Interior Shahid Khan, a grade 22 officer, soon from his post, as he is being given an important assignment in Punjab government, the sources aware of the development Tuesday informed The Nation.
If the incumbent secretary interior was removed from his post, the new secretary interior would be the fourth one appointed on this post since the PML-N formed a government at the federal level after a sweeping victory in May 11 general elections.
A senior official of the ministry of interior wishing not to be named confirmed that Secretary Interior Shahid Khan was on leave and Imtiaz Tajwar, an officer of BPS-21 and working as additional secretary at the ministry of interior has been appointed as acting secretary interior. He further said that going away of Shahid Khan on leave was part of the development of his removal as he was being given as important task in Punjab government. Shahid Khan has previously served as home secretary Punjab.
Acting Secretary Interior Imtiaz Tajwar, who is enjoying very close relations with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, had also been appointed as acting chairman National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) by the ministry after the resignation of former chairman Tariq Malik. The board of directors (BoD) of NADRA later confirmed this appointment.
No official version came from the ministry of interior about this development, as the ministry has no official spokesman.
Raja Abbas was the secretary interior when the incumbent government rose to power after May elections; however, he was removed from the post because of having good relations with the former ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Qamar Zaman Chaudhry was appointed secretary interior. Shahid Khan was appointed as secretary interior after the federal government in consultations with the opposition benches decided to appoint Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as chairman of the NAB.