The decision taken in the last Sindh Cabinet meeting regarding need for changes in the provincial civil bureaucracy and later deleted from the minutes of the meeting indicates that large-scale reshuffling that would suit the lobbies supportive of the governor and the chief minister is on the cards.
Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that, with a view to smoothen the political atmosphere and strengthen their party positions, the two major coalition partners and others have begun asking the governor and the chief minister to post officers of their liking much before the coming general elections in 2007.
They said that most sought after positions are that of district co-ordination officers and deputy district officers, revenue, as these two officers remain in direct touch at the grass-roots levels with the local population.
They said that though this is not the case in Karachi but all the other districts where agriculturists live DCO and DDO matter. These officers can always have a word with local landlords maintaining small to medium size landholding.
The Sindh Cabinet in its last meeting had expressed dismay over the attitude of officers responsible/answerable to federal government in matters of political accommodation and noted with concern that they should be made to realise political concerns of the government. "They should act on the demand of exigencies," demanded political representatives.
The cabinet was of the view that " to expedite the development work and to give agriculture a boost" efficient officers should now replace the 'unproductive' officers.
Sources said that the chief secretary is likely to be replaced in the coming months. This would be followed by changes in the Home, Local Bodies and Finance Secretaries. The DCOs from Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah are also due for transfer. Larkana and Sukkur will also have new faces.
They said that even minor adjustments would be made at town committee levels to make sure that 'like-minded officers' were in place.
They said that the chief minister was solely dependent on the support from MQM, Muslim League (Q) leaders in Punjab, and PML (F) Sindh. Former President Farooq Leghari and his followers also support him.
They said that in addition to scattered and weak support from different political groups, the chief minister is heavily dependent upon the army for support.
The chief minister, who finds his political enemies in districts Shikarpur and Jacobabad, led by Imtiaz Sheikh, and in District Sukkur and upward led by Mahars, has become shaky and would like to install a strong team of district administrators who would supports him in the coming elections in 2007.
Sources said that the Sindh Cabinet meeting was dominated by heated discussion on administrative weaknesses that have adversely affected law and order situation in the province, price increase in respect of daily-use articles and mismanagement in water distribution for agricultural land.
They said that no one came forward frankly about the necessity of changes in the civil bureaucracy on political compulsions but there was an agreement among the cabinet members that "cleansing of the civil administration was overdue".
Sources said that the process of postings and transfers would begin next month. It would be taken up on large-scale basis immediately after the announcement of provincial and federal budgets for 2006-07. "Elections are not far away, provided the President does not change his mind," they added.
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