The federal government has directed all ministries, provincial governments and officers concerned to take “punitive measures” against civil servants contributing articles in newspapers and appearing on TV shows, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Per details, the Establishment Division issued a circular to all top officials, including the secretary general to the president, the principal secretary to the prime minister and all chief secretaries to check the civil servants contributing articles in newspapers and appearing on TV talk shows.
The circular called the government servants “making statements of their opinion” in newspapers “highly objectionable”, which placed the government in an “embarrassing position”. It further directed the top bureaucracy to check the practice as all such statements of opinion and articles by a government servant without prior approval of the government are prohibited under the Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, 1964. Under the rules 21 and 22 of Government Servants (Conduct) Rules, the government officials are prohibited to express views on government policy and political issues through participation in a radio or television programme or contribute in a newspaper or periodical. The Establishment Division further directed the administrative heads to take “punitive action” against officials violating the orders under the Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1973 and also as per the instructions contained at S.I. No. 39, 41 and 49 of ESTACODE.
Moreover, the Establishment Division has asked all ministries and divisions to bring the mentioned provisions of rules to the notice of all government servants, including those in attached departments and subordinate offices for “strict compliance”, otherwise those violating the rules will be proceeded against under the aforementioned rules. Sources further said the government had taken strict measures after several serving bureaucrats regularly appeared on TV and radio shows, while many were writing articles in newspapers commenting on the government’s policy.
They further said the circular had been sent from top bureaucrats serving with the president and the prime minister to all ministries and provincial chief secretaries, which clearly showed the “seriousness” of the directive.
