ISLAMABAD: Within a month and a half, the caretaker government has replacedthe incumbent Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Dr Muhammad Suleman Khan withLt Cdr (r) Ihsan Ghani in a bid to ensure free and fair elections.
The Establishment Division (ED) on Friday issued the notification of thenew civilian spymaster.
“With the approval of the federal government, Lt Cdr (r) Ihsan Ghani, aBS-22 officer of Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) presently serving atNational Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), is transferred and posted asIB director general (DG),” the notification read.
The outgoing DG has been directed to assume charge in NACTA.
“With the approval of the federal government, Dr Muhammad Suleman Khan, aBS-22 officer of PSP presently serving as IB DG, is transferred and postedas NACTA national coordinator with immediate effect and until furtherorders,” the notification added.
The new IB chief is due to retire on August 4, as officials said that thenew government will again decide in August to give an extension to Ghani orbring a new officer for this slot.
The new IB chief is reportedly a close relative of PM Nasirul Mulk, sourcesadded.
The outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had appointedSuleman as IB DG on May 8 after Aftab Sultan refused to accept the fourthextension.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on June 16, demanded the removal of IB DGDr Suleman Khan and some of his subordinates, including Shujat UllahQureshi, Awais Ayyub, Bilal Riaz Burki, Nafees Macci and Fawad Asad Ullahfor allegedly running a political cell in IB allegedly to benefit PML-N.
PTI had alleged in a letter to PM that “the selection of the IB DG was madein consultation with an already existing core team of the political cell toensure continuity of services to the PML- N”.
In another notification, ED again posted Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera assecretary information after the Supreme Court’s (SC) directions. “Inpursuance of SC orders in HR case No 5654-G of 2018, Sardar Ahmad NawazSukhera, a BS-22 officer of PAS presently posted as secretary federaleducation and professional training division is transferred and posted assecretary information and broadcasting division with immediate effect anduntil further orders whereas Arshad Mirza a BS-22 officer of PAS presentlyposted as secretary information and broadcasting division directed to takethe charge of secretary federal education and professional trainingdivision with immediate effect,” the notification read.
In another notification, Usman Akhtar Bajwa, a BS-20 officer of PASpresently posted as CDA chairman is transferred and directed to report toED.
Meanwhile, with the approval of the federal government, Ishrat Ali, a BS-21officer of PAS presently serving as Immigration and Passport DG underInterior Division is transferred and posted as a member of the board of CDAwith immediate effect.
Upon its posting as a member of the board, Ishrat Ali is appointed as CDAchairman with immediate effect.