Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s firm stance against political influence in bureaucratic appointments is reportedly causing friction within the PML-N, particularly with a federal minister. The minister is said to be upset after being left out of a key administrative decision in his own constituency, which led to the arrest and removal of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Sialkot.
Sources indicate that the Punjab Chief Minister is committed to her principle of not allowing political pressure, whether from within or outside the party, to sway bureaucratic appointments. The minister, who hails from Sialkot, became upset when the ADC was removed and arrested without his consultation. According to sources, this action was taken after the CM was presented with concrete evidence of corruption against the officer. A source close to Maryam stated, “The chief minister has already made it clear she would rather step down than compromise on bureaucratic appointments.” She reportedly greenlit the ADC’s arrest only after being fully satisfied with the evidence.
The federal minister, a key figure from Sialkot, was reportedly unhappy about not being consulted before the removal of a major official from his political stronghold. A source claimed that the minister believed the CM acted against the ADC without a formal inquiry and expected her to verify the complaint before taking such a serious step. Both Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari and the federal minister declined to comment when contacted. Meanwhile, the Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment has secured a four-day extension of the ADC’s physical remand, with the next hearing scheduled for August 11. Political observers view this situation as a significant test of Maryam Nawaz’s resolve to de-politicize the bureaucracy, a stance that has already upset many in both the PML-N and its coalition partner, the PPP.
