ISLAMABAD: Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government has conveyed to its coalition partner- the PPP- that no political appointments will be allowed in the provincial civil administration on the recommendation of either the PMLN or PPP MNAs and MPAs.
According to a source, who was involved in discussions between the PMLN and PPP on irritants relating to Punjab, there will be no compromise on the provincial government’s decision to discourage political appointments in the civilian bureaucracy.
The source said that the PPP side was also reasonable in these discussions and did not stick to its demand for share in civil administration and police appointments in parts of Punjab where the PPP had won the Feb 2024 elections. The PPP, it is said, was assured that the appointments in the civil administration and police will be made on merit without any political interference from even any of the PMLN MNAs or MPAs.
There were some issues relating to budgetary matters that had recently made the PPP uneasy but one serious concern of the party was about Punjab where it is complaining of not getting political space as was reportedly assured when the PPP had decided to join the treasury benches to help the PMLN form the government.
The PPP wanted its share of appointments in Punjab’s bureaucracy particularly in those districts where the party has its parliamentary presence. Maryam Nawaz, however, is not willing to make changes in the bureaucracy on the basis of politicians’ recommendations irrespective of their party affiliation.
It is said that the Punjab chief minister has even categorically told her own party MPs that no political interference in civil administration and police would be acceptable. This decision of the chief minister has not only made many of PMLN MPs uncomfortable but it was also upsetting for PPP MNAs and MPAs from Punjab. There were media reports suggesting that during the PPP-PMLN’s recent negotiations to settle down the irritants between them, the N-League had agreed to allow the Peoples Party to make its choice appointments in the civil administration and police in areas where the PPP won the election.
The source, however, said that no such understanding had been reached between the PMLN and PPP during their recent discussions on Punjab. “Neither the chief minister is allowing such an interference in administrative matters to PMLN MPs nor any such exception will be created for the PPP,” said the source.
