Yousaf Naseem Khokhar refuses to become chief secretary Punjab: sources

1. Yousaf Naeem Khokhar was among list of three people proposed by Punjab govt to take top bureaucrat’s seat in province.
2. Apart from Khokhar, the names of Tahir Khurshid, and Abdullah were given to the federal government.
3. Khokhar reportedly tells Establishment Division secretary that he found it beneath his dignity to be bracketed with Tahir Khursheed.

LAHORE: Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, who is currently posted as the interior secretary, has declined to consider the offer of becoming the chief secretary of Punjab, sources told The News on Sunday.

Khokhar was among the list of three people proposed by the Punjab government, to take the top bureaucrat’s seat in the province.

Apart from Khokhar, the names of Tahir Khurshid, and Abdullah were given to the federal government to take up the post of Punjab chief secretary. All three are senior bureaucrats, currently serving in the federal government.

However, sources close to these developments have told The News that upon learning that his name had been proposed as Punjab chief secretary, Khokhar called the Establishment Division secretary and told him that he was not interested in taking up the post.

It is learnt that Khokhar told the Establishment Division secretary that he found it beneath his dignity to be bracketed with Tahir Khursheed, one of the other contenders.

Khokhar has already served as chief secretary for more than a year during the Usman Buzdar-led government. The federal government removed him from his post in November 2019 and Azam Suleman Khan was posted as his replacement.

Tahir Khurshid served as former Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s principal secretary. He was relieved of his duties following an investigation into assets beyond means case initiated against him by the National Accountability Bureau.

Abdullah is also working as a secretary in the federal government.