Continuing to fortify his team, Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday appointed former IPS and DGP-rank officer Mohammad Mustafa as his Principal Strategic Adviser.
Mustafa, the husband of Punjab Cabinet Minister Razia Sultana, had earlier refused to work on a “political post” when Sidhu had appointed him as one of his four advisers, over a week back.
“Mohd Mustafa is hereby appointed as the principal strategic advisor to the PPCC president, the undersigned, Navjot Singh Sidhu with immediate effect,” a statement issued by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee said.
“He would act as a PCC coordinator with the AICC on issues pertaining to his domain and any other matters that the president may deem fit,” it added.
Also sharing the news on Twitter along with his picture with the Razia Sultana and Mustafa holding letter of his appointment, Sidhu wrote: “Love to be associated with Razia Ji and Mustafa sahib.”
Besides Mustafa, Sidhu on August 11 had appointed three advisers — Lok Sabha MP Dr Amar Singh, former registrar of Faridkot-based Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Pyare Lal Garg, and poll analyst Malvinder Singh Mali.
However, Mustafa had refused to take up the appointment, maintaining that he would continue to work for the rise of the Congress party in Punjab but without any position.
It may be mentioned that Mustafa, along with another IPS officer Siddharth Chattopadhyaya, had challenged IPS officer Dinkar Gupta’s appointment as Punjab police chief in 2019. The State Government had appointed Gupta as the Punjab DGP, suppressing the seniority of other IPS officers, including Mustafa.
Mustafa’s appointment is fourth in the series he has been announcing ever since he took over the party reins in Punjab.
Already having four working presidents to assist him, Sidhu on August 11 appointed four advisers including Mustafa. On August 16, Sidhu appointed his close aide and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh as PPCC general secretary (organisation). Only a day before, cricketer-turned-politician had appointed two media advisers — Jagtar Singh Sidhu and Surinder Dalla.