KARACHI – The Sindh government has removed Manzoor Solangi, a famous writer, from the post of Assistant Professor through the Removal From Service (Special Powers) Ordinance 2000, a law that was promulgated by former president Pervez Musharraf in 2000.
It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government had repealed the law on March 5 last year, following which President Asif Ali Zardari had congratulated labourers and employees. Former Pakistan People’s Party chairwoman Benazir Bhutto had termed the ordinance as a black law as well as a draconian law of the dictatorship era.
According to sources in the provincial government, Solangi was axed because of his comments during a private TV channel’s programme regarding the dire situation of education in the province. Members of the civil society from different walks of life have strongly condemned Sindh government’s decision and termed it as shameful.
The State Bank Employees Union, Karachi Bar Association, Sindh Professors and Lecturers Association, Primary Teachers Association, and labour and civil society organisations condemned act through different statements. Apart from the surprising existence of the Removal From Service Ordinance at the provincial level, especially after it was repealed at the federal level, when Solangi’s case is carefully considered, it clearly exposes the biasness of the provincial government.
Solangi participated in a TV programme, in which he criticised government policy on education, for which he was issued a show-cause notice, vide Memo No SOIII(S&GAD)3-148/2010, dated 09.07.2010 on the charge of misconduct. He submitted his reply to the show-cause notice, but the then education secretary issued a transfer order and directed him to report to the Sindh Secretariat.
Through his lawyer Justice (r) Rasheed A Rizvi, Solangi challenged the order in the Sindh High Court (SHC) where he stated that he was transferred on the directives of Senior Sindh Education and Literacy Minister Pir Mazharul Haq. Even though the case was still pending in the SHC on February 17, 2011, Sindh Chief Secretary Ghulam Ali Pasha directed Solangi to appear before him within 24 hours through a notice that was personally served by a government employee.
Two orders were issued on the same day from the office of CS Pasha – in the first letter, Solangi was directed to appear before him on February 28, 2011, and in the second letter, he was directed to appear within 24 hours. It is interesting to note here that on March 3, 2011, Pasha is retiring, and the education minister could also be replaced.
On the condition of anonymity, a Sindh government official said, “I have never seen any matter being handled as hurriedly as in the case of Solangi.” According to Solangi, Pasha had suggested him to apologise to the education minister or face a severe punishment.
When Solangi refused to apologise, Pasha said he would have to remove him from his post because the education minister had ordered him to do so.
Solangi told Pakistan Today that he would challenge the decision of the provincial government in court.
“I will not apologise and continue to raise voice against corruption and the deteriorating situation of education in Sindh. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to do so. The action being taken against me is against the philosophy of Benazir Bhutto,” he added.
