‘Promotional ping pong’ in SITE, SSIC continues

Sindh Commerce and Industries Minister Rauf Siddiqui on Monday announced the promotion of 874 employees in the Sindh Industrial Trading Estates (SITE) and the Sindh Small Industries Corporation (SSIC).
He made the announcement at a Hajj balloting ceremony organised at the SITE head office on Monday.
Interestingly, Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro had last year cancelled the promotion orders of the same officers for want of “proper verification and justification”.
Speaking at the ceremony, the MQM’s minister restored the previous order for the alleged out-of-turn promotions in SITE and SSIC with immediate effect.
“Three months ago, we promoted the employees according to the law, but unfortunately the order was cancelled without any reason,” he said. “I will never allow any injustice be done to honest officers during my tenure.”
In July 2011, the MQM had quit the coalition government and the Sindh law minister from the ruling PPP was given the additional charge of industries and commerce portfolio.
While on a visit to the SITE area, Soomro had cancelled at least 874 out-of-turn promotions in SITE and SSIC terming “illegal”.
“The PPP minister cancelled all the out-of-turn promotions due to lack of verification,” the sources told Pakistan Today.
However, when the MQM rejoined the government, the employees concerned were assured that the law minister’s order would be cancelled after things get better.
The sources claimed that the promotions in SITE and SSIC were made in violation of the Sindh government’s Rules of Business as seniority and other legal formalities were not considered in the promotion process.
In October 2011, Siddiqui had instructed the promotion committee to finalise the names of officers in the list according to merit, for which the announcement was made on Monday.
Pakistan Today tried to contact the Sindh Commerce and Industries Minister repeatedly but he could not be approached.