SC verdict brings fruit for deserving officers

Complying with the orders of Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Sindh government has returned at least 495 officials who were allegedly promoted, absorbed and inducted in the secretariat group illegally to their original posts and parent department, it has been learnt reliably.

These officials were “blessed” by the PPP government during its tenure and they were ‘what the sources claimed’ promoted/absorbed into different cadres ‘illegally’ violating the set rules of procedures.

The officials that include non-secretariat group were absorbed and promoted to top bureaucratic slots as the said officials served the PPP leadership since their government was formed in year 2008.

The move by the outgoing government, the senior bureaucrats opined, had deprived the actual employees of secretariat group of their fundamental rights, who have come through a long and tough competitive examination.

The officials told Pakistan Today that there were total 16 seats of grade-20 and these seats were to be filled up by promotion of junior officers, however, there were 11 outsiders who were granted promotions on political grounds. Besides, a large number of officials from various departments were absorbed and promoted on the key posts in grade-19 creating a sense of deprivation among the officials waiting for promotions since years.

As per the rule, there is no provision in the Sindh Civil Servants Act 1973 and rules framed there under for absorption of persons who were not covered under the definition of ‘Civil Servant”. Therefore, the absorption of official is violation of Section 24 of the SCS Act 1973 that could not press into service for their absorption, the official opined.

Meanwhile, the PPP-led government had also promulgated an ordinance dated May 4, 2011, terming these absorptions as legal and valid from date of absorption with retrospective effect.

The civil services cadres are created to recruit efficient and qualified persons through a process of recruitment to effectively run the government machinery. But, the back door absorptions have not only sent wrong message to prospective candidates but also deformed the cadre formation and demoralised the PSS officers who have properly joined the cadre through due process of recruitment.

As per the notification issued, the officials of services general administration and coordination department (SGA&CD) among others, who were sent packing, included (r) Aftab Lodhi posted as secretary (BS-20) to Sindh governor Sindh. After retirement from the Pakistan Army, he was re-employed on contract in 1991. Later on his contract was extended till the date of superannuation. This was done in 1994 and his superannuation was due on January 1, 2012.

Ali Hassan Brohi, presently awaiting posting in the SGA&CD was an officer in BPS-18 in Pakistan sports board under the ministry of sports and culture. He was inducted into the Sindh government on deputation basis in 1994. He was absorbed in 1995 and thereafter promoted firstly as additional secretary and then secretary.

Rasool Bux Phulpoto presently waiting for his posting was an officer in education department, government of Sindh, was appointed on adhoc basis in People’s Works Programme. He was brought to the government of Sindh on deputation basis and was posted as additional secretary. He was absorbed in 1995 and regularised in 2002 but his regularisation was attenuated in 1994.

Syed Abid Ali Shah, posted as secretary zakat and ushr department (BS-20) Kashmore, is an ex-employee of Ghee Corporation of Pakistan from where he obtained golden hand shake scheme. He came to the Sindh government on deputation for three years in 1999. He was subsequently absorbed in service in the provincial secretariat as additional secretary and then promoted as secretary.

S M Kaleem Makki, presently posted as secretary public health engineering (BS-20), was appointed as PD quality control Sindh small industries corporation, industries department, government of Sindh, in the year 1994 and he was declared surplus after abolition of post and absorbed as economist-cum-additional secretary (an ex-cadre post) in 2005. Subsequently, the post was taken up by cadre schedule and the officer was termed as cadre officer in secretariat service. Now he has been promoted as secretary in BS-20.

Muhammad Jaffer Abbasi was appointed as deputy secretary public service commission in BS-17. Subsequently, his post was upgraded in BS-18. He was posted in the government of Sindh as deputy secretary on deputation basis in 1999 and subsequently absorbed in secretariat service in 2005 and he was a assigned seniority from the date of deputation and now senior to 1988 direct recruit officers of secretariat.

Dr Muhamamd Ali awaiting posting in SGA&CD was an employee of Zarai Traqiati Bank Limited when he was taken as special secretary in Chief Minister Secretariat in 2005 where he was absorbed in 2006 as BS-20 officer in secretariat service.

Abdul Ghani Jokhio, an employee of SCUG local government department posted as director (F&A) and secretary (BS-19) LDA was absorbed as additional secretary in BS-19 in PSS Cadre in 2008.

Ahmed Bux Solangi posted as secretary BS-18 public safety commission Naushehro Feroze was appointed as protocol officer in BS-17 in Chief Minister’s secretariat. The post was subsequently upgraded to BS-18 and he was allowed BS-18. He was then absorbed as deputy secretary.

Interestingly, Maqbool Memon, who served as coordinator to President Asif Zardari’s sister MNA Faryal Talpur was absorbed in ex-PCS BS-18. Similarly, Rafique Qureshi, officer of ex-PCS BS-18, was promoted out of turn to BS-19. Suhail Ahmed Qureshi, officer of PSS BS-19, was promoted out of turn in BS-20. There are dozens of other cases wherein officers of different cadres have been promoted illegally and unlawfully.