ISLAMABAD (Ansar Abbasi) The Punjab government has said that not a single transfer order was withdrawn after the massive transfer of 3,000 patwaris in a single day, and termed the implementation of the move as part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s policy to keep bureaucratic affairs free from political interference. When contacted for more information regarding large-scale transfers, Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari said that all transfer orders issued regarding Patwaris have been implemented and not a single order has been withdrawn. He said that he has also discussed the matter with the Chief Secretary Punjab and he has been assured that all the orders have been fully implemented and there is no question of withdrawing them. This development is significant because patwari exchanges have traditionally been considered particularly difficult. Although patwaris occupy relatively low positions in the official hierarchy, they have considerable influence in the management of the treasury department due to their direct involvement in land records, bequests, property matters and other revenue related services. The ability of patwaris to influence transfer postings or to regulate them according to their own interests has long been considered a strongly entrenched feature of the provincial revenue system. Therefore, the Punjab government is looking at this recent incident as a test whether a large-scale administrative decision taken at the grassroots level can be implemented without political or other external interference. The Maryam Nawaz government is understood to have taken a position from the outset that interference in bureaucratic matters will not be tolerated. Political interference in transfer postings has long been a controversial issue in Pakistan, where elected representatives and other influential people often seek to transfer or post officers in their constituencies.