Officers shuffled in KP in preparation for 2023 General Elections

PESHAWAR: KP Caretaker Government has shuffled a number of officers from various departments in preparation for General Elections 2023. These transfers and postings are a regular activity prior to elections to ensure impartial and neutral electoral process.

In this regard, the Chief Secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sent a summary of postings and transfers to the Election Commission of Pakistan to which ECP has given its nod.

A number of officers who have been working in secretariat have been directed to take charge as Deputy Commissioners in the various districts and senior officers were shuffled among various departments in secretariat.

These transfers are a common practice before the elections. In this regard Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan through an official communique had directed the caretaker Chief Ministers of both Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure free and fair elections and all stakeholders agreed that current Deputy Commissioners who were posted by previous government may be replaced by impartial officers from Secretariat. It has also been learnt that Additional Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners will be transferred in next step to ensure transparent electoral process.

A total of 42 officers of BPS 18, 19 and 20 have been transferred. The major transfers include posting of Zafarul Islam as Commissioner D.I.Khan, Mr. Afaq Wazir as Deputy Commissioner Peshawar from KPRA, Mr. Shah Rukh Ali from KP Food Authority to Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad, Mr. Wasil Khan from Social Welfare Department to Deputy Commissioner Kohat and Mr. Kashif Qayyum as Deputy Commissioner Malakand.