Infamous OPS (own pay scale) still stays in many government departments of the Sindh province despite the clear-cut orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan that junior officers should not be posted to senior slots in the grab of own pay scale, however, the OPS prevails in many departments as it suits the political interests of rulers.
Sources told PPI that more than one dozen junior officers of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) have been enjoying the perks of high-grade government posts despite SC’s order that were issued before July to send the junior to their deserving posts.
The sources said that not only the disobedience of SC’s verdict had been overlooked but the orders of Karachi Administrator Rauf Akhter Farooqui were also ignored. Farooqui had issued a circular to all the officers to go back to their previous posts where they were assigned before OPS-based transfers but the officers had held positions on the basis of having relationships with higher authorities and ministers. However, the KMC had submitted to the SC in its response wherein it was acknowledged that more than 17 junior officers had been removed from the senior offices and sent back to their original postings as per their pay scale.
The sources said some of those officers were not only reluctant to leave the senior posts but were also trying to occupy those seats permanently. This has created a scene of mismanagement in the departments where senior officers are compelled to work under non-deserving junior people. This situation could be easily witnessed in parks and horticulture, health, budget, finance, land recovery and accounts departments, where some junior officers are not ready to leave the senior posts.
Same situation is also in the Karachi Development Authority, Karachi Water & Sewerage Board and District Municipal Corporations.
On the other hand, several officers are working on dual posts in KMC including the offices of secretary local bodies and metropolitan commissioner, municipal services and IT, human resources management, law, technical services and parks and horticulture.
The sources said the officers holding dual posts and working on senior posts on the basis on infamous OPS enjoy strong political support and even higher authorities could not afford displeasing them.
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