IT seems as if one by one all those who dare to raise any questions about government policy are being removed. The latest to go is the head of the National Transmission and Despatch Company, who had been vocal in cautioning against the runaway commissioning of new power generation capacity. A decision was made in the Ministry of Water and Power last year that no new power generation projects should be commissioned after the capacity expansion plan was put into motion. The decision was made because more generation capacity would be surplus to projected requirements while creating further burdens on the country`s fiscal and foreign exchange resources. Those who chaffed against this decision were successful in removing its architect, the then secretary of water and power, from his position earlier this year. Following the secretary`s departure, the managing director of NTDC continued voicing concern about the reckless commissioning of new generation capacity on extravagant terms. Now he too has been removed.

This rolling of heads in the power sector is mirrored in other places as the federal government is on an accelerated drive to concentrate all powers in its own hands. The State Bank has been captured recently, and Nepra`s powers are being redrawn to ensure that it is not left with the capacity to stand in the way of the government`s will. All other regulators similarly face the chopping block, while the Engineering Development Board`s powers are being transferred to the industries ministry. This is increasingly looking like a runaway centralisation drive, to strip all autonomous centres of power within the state and subordinate them to the will of the federal government.

The departure of the NTDC head means there are no voices left in the power sector that can think outside the parameters set by the federal government. The reasons for the MD`s summary dismissal sound weak, and the fact that the board was `unanimous` in voting for his departure is further evidence that only yes men are equipped to work under this government. It was stated that some transmission projects `had not been handled in a proper way` and there were `slippages in the time lines`. He was also blamed for load-shedding during Ramazan. The MD is a known professional, and his removal now creates a situation where the power sector`s leadership is passing to people who serve no interest other than that of their political masters.