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\u2022 ECP asks rulers to avoid hiring those with \u2018known political allegiances\u2019
\u2022 Letter comes after PPP presser assailing ex-bureaucrats\u2019 induction<\/p>\n
ISLAMABAD\/LAHORE: A day after former principal secretary to ex-PM Nawaz Sharif, Fawad Hasan Fawad, was inducted<\/a> into the caretaker cabinet, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), in a letter to the caretaker prime minister\u2019s secretary, advised the interim government to refrain from inducting \u201cpersons of known political allegiance\u201d.<\/p>\n The letter is addressed to Tauqir Shah, the caretaker PM\u2019s principal secretary, and referred to reservations expressed by a political party which blamed the caretaker government for carrying on the legacy of the previous political regime.<\/p>\n \u201cA recent press conference held by a political party is a pointer in this direction, whereby they have blamed the caretaker government of carrying on with the previous political legacy,\u201d the ECP said in the letter that bore the signature of Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal Hussain.<\/p>\n This was a reference to a presser, held by PPP leaders in Lahore on Wednesday, where they had assailed the induction of former bureaucrats<\/a> such as Fawad Hasan Fawad and Ahad Cheema in the caretaker cabinet.<\/p>\n While \u201cselecting a member of the [caretaker] cabinet due care should be exercised to avoid persons of known political allegiance\u201d, the letter added.<\/p>\n Similarly, it also urged caution while selecting senior civil servants for the appointment to key positions for the sake of a neutral caretaker set-up.<\/p>\n The letter added Article 218 (3) mandated the ECP to conduct the election and to make arrangements to ensure that the election is conducted in accordance with law.<\/p>\n \u201cThis provision is actually a clarion call to ensure that a level playing field is provided to all political parties and contesting candidates for elections,\u201d it read.<\/p>\n Though the ECP\u2019s letter comes a day after the induction of Fawad Hasan Fawad, the interim cabinet has a number of ministers known for their close association with the PML-N. They include Ahad Cheema, Sami Saeed, Umar Saif, Shahid Ashraf Tarar, and Jahanzaib Khan.<\/p>\n The presence of former close aides of the Sharif brothers in the caretaker set-up has strengthened the perception that it was an \u201cextension\u201d of the previous government led by the PML-N.<\/p>\n Even though there are also some PPP men in the cabinet, the increasing number of ministers ostensibly close to the PML-N has raised many an eyebrow; the PPP, a former ally of the PML-N, has also started questioning the caretaker setup\u2019s decisions favouring the PML-N.<\/p>\n \u201cThe inclusion of Fawad Hasan Fawad, who was the principal secretary to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from 2015 to 2017, ahead of his homecoming in October, has sent a clear message that the PML-N supreme leader has the blessings of the powerful circles and placement of his confidant in the federal cabinet will ensure the protection of his interests,\u201d a party insider told Dawn<\/em> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Mr Hasan was arrested in 2018 by NAB in the Ashiana Housing scam<\/a> and income beyond means<\/a> case. In 2020, he got bail and this February he was acquitted of all charges in the assets beyond means and the Ashiana Housing cases. \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cSince Mr Hasan remained staun\u00adchly loyal to the elder Sharif even in captivity and has immense experience in spearheading multiple infrastructure and energy projects, the latter wanted him in the caretaker cabinet to work along with PM Kakar to ensure his party\u2019s policies and interests are followed and protected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Dr Taqueer Shah, who was principal secretary to former PM Shehbaz Sharif, is currently serving PM Kakar in the same position.<\/p>\n