ISLAMABAD – A unique promotion case has surfaced at the Pakistan Printing Corporation (PPC) where a junior BPS-16 officer was promoted to BPS-18 in a single day and appointed as a deputy secretary. In sheer violation of Establishment Code and defined service rules of PPC, Syed Ajmal Hussain, who is said to have close links with the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), was given double promotion with a single stroke of pen. Interestingly, Ajmal was given out of turn promotion in 2008, but for the last three years the case remained unnoticed.
According to the office order dated 08-04-2008 – copy available with this scribe – Ajmal was given pro-forma promotion as administrative officer in BPS-17. He was promoted with back date- effect from January 1999. But, in second paragraph of the same document, he was elevated to Grade-18. According to the Establishment Code, the minimum length of service for promotion to Grade-18 is at least five years of service in Grade 17 while the PCP rules make at least seven year service in Grade 17 mandatory.
It is pertinent to note that the pro-forma promotion, which was given to said officer in 2008 with effect from 1999, is only allowed to the person serving on deputation in Foreign Service and not to the regular employees. Similarly, as per clause 3 of the PCP employees service rules, “no employees shall be considered for promotion to a grade higher than next grade of a post held by him except where the next higher post is in a grade higher than the immediate higher grade.” When contacted, KD Jalbani, Deputy Secretary Admin, for his comments, simply refused to give the PCP’s version. .
“Sorry, I can’t comment on this topic,” he replied. Taking to Pakistan Today, Ajmal Shah said those who promoted him were well aware of rules and regulations. “I was given my right…. As I was one of the most senior officers to be considered for the said slot,” he said. When asked how he was given two promotions in one day, he said every thing was done in accordance with law. Meanwhile, seven officers of BPS 17, who have been waiting for the last several years for promotion in next grade, have decided to move the court against what they believed the illegal promotion, surfaced after a period of around three years.
