Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A prevailing uncertainty regarding extension of Waseem Ahmed Khan as Member Planning and Design, Capital Development Authority (CDA) has become more complex when Chairman CDA and Establishment Division issued two separate letters contrary to each other.

According to details, Chairman CDA, Shaikh Ansar Aziz wrote a letter to Ministry of Capital Administration and Development Division (CA&DD) to send back Waseem Ahmed Khan in his parent department; whereas, he also gave the charge of Member Planning and Design to Asad Mehboob Kiani, a grade 20 officer of CDA presently working as Chief Metropolitan Officer (CMO) in Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad. Kiani is being considered most important aide of Mayor Shaikh Ansar Aziz.

The letter categorically stated that the services of Waseem Ahmed Khan is no more required in the authority and placed at the disposal of Ministry of CA&DD for his further repatriation.

The situation took a sharp turn, when on the same day in late hours the Establishment Division has also issued a notification straight contrary to Shaikh Ansar’s letter and extended the services of Waseem Ahmed Khan as Member Planning and Design for one more year.

Waseem Ahmed Khan was originally appointed in LDA as Chief Metropolitan Planner in grade 20 when he was appointed on deputation as Member Planning and Design in CDA in August 2013. The three years term of Waseem Ahmed Khan was expired on 21 August, 2016, but he did not left his post and continued the office till Friday afternoon, when a notification was issued by the Human Resource Directorate (HRD) of the CDA regarding appointment of Asad Mehboob Kiani as Member Planning and Design on look after bases.

Waseem Ahmad Khan was quite hopeful that he will become successful to get an extension for one more year as a member in the authority. He left his officer as he received the news that he has been dismissed by the Shaikh Ansar Aziz.

It is pertinent to mention here that this was first major decision of Shaikh Ansar Aziz as Chairman CDA, but it become controversial as the Establishment Division not only extended the services of Member Planning Waseem Ahmad Khan, but clearly mentioned in notification that the said notification has the endorsement of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Waseem Ahmed Khan is generally considered as an honest government officer and his critics only pointed out that he has low decision power as he tries to avoid signing cases involving technicalities.

Sources considered close to Waseem Ahmad Khan in CDA claimed, “LDA has already given a go ahead to Waseem Ahmed Khan for further extension, and now a formal notification in this regard has also been issued by the Establishment Division.”

They considered Establishment Division as a competent forum to appoint or remove any member or decide about his extension.

As a routine, an officer of grade 20 or above can be appointed as Member CDA board on deputation for three years, which is further extendable up to five years. The consent of parent department and borrowing organisation is mandatory for the appointment of an officer on deputation.