PLG ordinance 2001 does not provides for DCO’s appointment under grade 21
Cheema was appointed secretary HED against rules as well, says an S&GAD official
There has to be a reason behind the appointment, says S&GAD Secretary
Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001
In every district, the government shall appoint a District Coordination Officer who shall be a civil servant of the Federation or of the Province, as far as possible in Basic Scale 20: provided that in a City District (Lahore), the District Coordination Officer may be a civil servant of the Federation or Province in Basic Scale 21.
LAHORE
The Punjab government has appointed a junior officer Ahad Khan Cheema as the Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) in violation of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Cheema is a grade 19 officer and has been given a post meant for grade 21 officers, against Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2001. Cheema, who was working as the Higher Education Department (HED) secretary, replaced Sajjad Bhutta, a grade 20 officer who had been made an officer on special duty (OSD). However, the post of the HED secretary remains vacant until further orders.
The appointment is an example of posting junior officer on a senior post, which in this case is the senior most position in the City District Government Lahore (CDGL). The appointment against the ordinance is significant especially after the DCOs have been given the additional charge of district administrators after Nazims completed their term.
An official from the Services and General Administration (S&GAD), seeking anonymity, said such appointments were made only when the officer in case is ‘well-connected’. Moreover, he said such policies “killed” the merit and discouraged other officers, who instead of focusing on their work focused on developing contacts to “capture” senior positions. He said, “Cheema was posted as the HED secretary against the rules as he was still in grade 18, and now the rules have been bended again with his appointment as the DCO”
Talking to Pakistan Today, S&GAD Secretary (services) Sikander Sultan Raja said that as per rules, the post was no doubt meant for a 21 grade officer, however various other factors including availability of officers were considered for such appointment. He said many 19 grade officers were working in various districts across Punjab. There had to be a reason behind the appointment, he added.
