ISLAMABAD - JAVAID-UR-RAHMAN - The ongoing differences between Minister for Communication, Arbab Alamgir Khan, and Chairman NHA, Javed Iqbal Awan, over some official matters have grown so intense that the later has been sent on one-month leave from his office.
NHA Chairman, Javed Iqbal Awan, has been sent on one-moth leave from office on the order of Prime Minister with an aim to cool down the tensed situation between the two heads, sources in the Communication Ministry told TheNation.
This might not be the climax of the situation as further action could also be taken after one month, they said. When contacted, NHA Chairman Javed Iqbal Awan simply refused to comment on this matter when asked about his sudden ‘leave’ after this matter. “I won’t comment on it,” he said.
Annoyed Communication Minister, Arbab Alamgir Khan, who is currently in London with President Asif Ali Zardari, has shared with this paper that he had taken up this matter with the Prime Minister after repeated non-compliance of his order by chairman NHA.
Arbab said National Highway Council (NHC) is working under him so how directives and ordered could finally be approved without his consent. He had said that he would not compromise on the issue honour at any cost.
The episode of tussle between communication minister and NHA chairman is not new to the communication ministry as the same situation was witnessed in the previous era when MQM leader former Communication Minister Shamim Siddique and Chairman NHA Major General (retd) Farrukh Javed were occupying these seats. The conflict between them was also widely published in media at that time.