KP transfers expose gaps between merit claims and ground realities

PESHAWAR: Despite strong claims by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of good governance and merit-based appointments and transfers, serious contradictions persist in the province’s administrative system.

Recent administrative reshuffles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have triggered widespread unease within the bureaucracy, exposing fundamental flaws in the posting and transfer mechanism at the provincial level.

Several senior officers have been sidelined as Officers on Special Duty (OSD), while comparatively junior officers have been posted to key and high-profile positions. This has raised serious questions about merit, governance standards, and administrative priorities.

Talking to media, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi maintained that all appointments and transfers were carried out strictly on merit, in accordance with established rules, regulations, and performance criteria. He asserted that no political pressure or personal preferences were involved in the process.

However, official records show that several senior officers — including Mahmood-ul-Hassan (PAS, BS-21), Arshad Khan (PCS SG, BS-21), Zakaullah Khattak (PCS EG, BS-21), Aamir Afaq (PMS, BS-20), Muhammad Ali Shah (PCS EG, BS-20), along with Yousaf Rahim (BS-20), Saqib Raza (BS-20), Muhammad Tahir Orakzai (BS-20), and Inayatullah Mohmand (BS-20) — are currently awaiting postings as OSDs despite the availability of multiple vacant administrative positions.

In contrast, several BS-19 officers have been appointed to positions traditionally reserved for BS-20 and BS-21 officers. Notable among these are Abid Wazir (PAS, BS-19), who has been appointed Secretary Industries, Commerce and Technical Education, and Zafar-ul-Islam (PAS, BS-19), who has been posted as Secretary Local Government, Elections and Rural Development under Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act.

Other significant appointments include Khalid (BS-19) as Commissioner Bannu and Captain (Retd) Mian Adil Iqbal (BS-19) as Secretary Labour.

The latest postings have intensified debate within administrative circles, with many questioning whether the province’s governance reforms align with the stated commitment to merit and institutional norms.