Nawaz to rein in bureaucracy via powerful Sethi

[That Guy]

Nawaz to rein in bureaucracy via powerful Sethi

ISLAMABAD: Soon after assuming power, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is contemplating on making strategic changes in the federal bureaucracy and abolishing the post of secretary establishment is expected to be one such step, sources told Dawn.com.

The expected move is part of the measures the prime minister is aiming to implement at reining in the powerful bureaucracy and for it he is chiefly is relying on Nargis Sethi, a trusted aide of his predecessors, they said.

Sethi as cabinet secretary would handle bureaucratic affairs in case a proposal to abolish the position of secretary establishment is brought about and sanctioned.

Sethi, who has already served as principal secretary to the prime minister in former Pakistan Peoples Party-led government, has also held the additional assignments of secretary water and power and secretary defence.

Her critics say it was during her time as secretary to the prime minister when several controversial appointments were made, including that of Tauqeer Sadiq as Chairman Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), Adnan Khawaja as Managing Director Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) and Ayaz Niazi as Chairman National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).

These appointments were annulled by the Supreme Court which had also summoned Sethi to explain her position. It was argued that she did not write a single note of dissent on files when the prime minister at the time was making these controversial appointments.

Sethi, who was one of the members of the board that appointed Sadiq to the slot of Ogra chief, was also questioned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in that regard. Later, the authorities cleared her name from all alleged wrongdoing.

A career District Management Group (DMG) officer, she is considered among the most influential bureaucrats in the country. Her husband, Saleem Sethi, is also a career bureaucrat.

Several objections were raised over her promotion from Grade 21 to Grade 22. The apex court annulled the promotion, but the then prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani relaxed the rules in order to make her elevation possible.

Sethi was not available to comment on her would-be role in the new government.

Nawaz to rein in bureaucracy via powerful Sethi - DAWN.COM

Thoughts?

 

[airmarshal]

If Nawaz wants to save his reputation, he must remain distant from people who were deemed close to PPP government and had hand in all their wrongdoings. At least thats my advice.

 

[Pakistanisage]

Nargis Sethi is daughter of Najam Sethi and these people are Anti Pakistan lot. Why are they being made in charge of the such powerful offices ?

 

[Creder]

Honeymoon is going kaput..one screw up at a time

 

[Sugarcane]

Accountability & control over bureaucracy is very much needed as they are more corrupt than politicians but i don't think sethi family is suitable for this job.

 

[Jango]

Nargis Sethi is daughter of Najam Sethi and these people are Anti Pakistan lot. Why are they being made in charge of the uch powerful offices ?

Aakhir Najam Sethi ko kisi waja say CM banaya tha na!

 

[TopCat]

Fix the politics and politicians, bureaucracy will follow...
It is the politicians which spoiled the bureaucracy.

 

[truthseeker2010]

first of all nargis sethi is not related to najam sethi..... she is just of the same cast.
second another blunder by the pm in such a short time.... He must reshuffle the bureaucracy if he really wants to deliver to the country and its people. Otherwise the same old bunch will do the same deeds they did in past, regardless of who is sitting at the top.

 

[Edevelop]

How do people know Nargis Sethi is related to Najam Sethi ? It doesn't mention anywhere in the article.

 

[SBD-3]

Sethi as cabinet secretary would handle bureaucratic affairs in case a proposal to abolish the position of secretary establishment is brought about and sanctioned.

This is again a "would be" scenario. NS has already selected Nasir Khosa as his secretary. Nergis has been extensively dealing with the military and other establishment in her previous tenure and this is something which works to her advantage for the post of cabinet secretary.

 

[Jango]

This is again a "would be" scenario. NS has already selected Nasir Khosa as his secretary. Nergis has been extensively dealing with the military and other establishment in her previous tenure and this is something which works to her advantage for the post of cabinet secretary.

There were also alot of rumors that she was one of the biggest crooks in the previous government, Kayani was reportedly very irked by her...you know, har cheez main taang arana.

 

[Leader]

There were also alot of rumors that she was one of the biggest crooks in the previous government, Kayani was reportedly very irked by her...you know, har cheez main taang arana.

if true........good !

 

[Jango]

if true........good !

???

Could you explain?

 

[SBD-3]

There were also alot of rumors that she was one of the biggest crooks in the previous government, Kayani was reportedly very irked by her...you know, har cheez main taang arana.

Yeah exactly, actually she were a tough customer for all three services and hard to convince. One of my friend told me that if somebody took a proposal of 100 Rs, the bargain would end at 30 Rs. That's why she is among the choices because she resists to both bureaucracy and military and usually files don't pass her table unnoticed.

 

[Jango]

Yeah exactly, actually she were a tough customer for all three services and hard to convince. One of my friend told me that if somebody took a proposal of 100 Rs, the bargain would end at 30 Rs. That's why she is among the choices because she resists to both bureaucracy and military and usually files don't pass her table unnoticed.

But she shouldn't be the neighbourhood police. As I said, har cheez main tang arana. She was meddling into the operational affairs as well...I don't want to go into details, but in one instance she created a ruckus in Quetta (this involved a Maj Gen).

She wants to impose her due authority, that is fine by me. She is a tough nut to crack and negotiate with, but there are limits as well. You don't have to make it a 'ana ka masla'!

Anyways, looks like Nawaz Sharif wants to promote a toughy look of his government to the bureaucracy, which is a good thing. These people are running riot, especially during the duration of the caretaker government.