Shahbaz Sharif demands equal playing field

Lahore: Former Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif Thursday called for the reshuffle of bureaucracy in the federal government and other provinces as has been done in Punjab.

“A question mark hangs on the fairness of elections after the caretaker government failed to make changes in the bureaucracy of the Centre and other provinces,” Shahbaz said in a statement.
He said that a majority of officers in federal departments such as NAB, NADRA and FBR, which are directly related to electoral process, were PPP’s handpicked, adding, “The presence of these blue-eyed officers casts a doubt on the free and fair election.”

“We all know about the procedures and standards the PPP had adopted while employing these officers,” the former CM said. He said that it was hard to comprehend why the interim government was making all such moves which are raising doubts about its credibility.

He said the chief secretary of Sindh has not been transferred although the ECP had ordered his removal weeks ago. In another violation of ECP’s directives, he added, former Punjab chief secretary Nasir Khosa has not been posted to Sindh so far.

“If the ECP can write to the prime minister to express its annoyance over a federal minister’s comment in favour of Nawaz Sharif, why can’t it ask the PM to reshuffle a biased administration?”
Shahbaz demanded that the ECP assert pressure on the federal government to get its order implemented.

“I hope the ECP, under its head Fakhru bhai, will meet its obligations and ensure a level playing field for all the contestants in the upcoming elections,” the former CM said.