LAHORE: Already upset over usurping the rights of Provincial Management Service (PMS) officers by the Pakistan Administrative Services officers, officials of the provincial administrative service have challenged the posting on deputation of several non-cadre officers of federal government departments against their prized seats in Punjab.
Ayesha Ranjha, an 18-grade officer of Inland Revenue Services Group is working as grade 19 Additional Secretary Local Government and Community Development against service rules and in violation of the judgement of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Similarly, Hassan Akhtar Khan, who belongs to Postal Group, has been appointed Special Secretary Operations in School Education Department. Fatima Sheikh, a junior officer of Information Group in grade 18 is working as Additional Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department.
PMS Officers Association Vice-President and Assistant Commissioner Abdul Razak Dogar said that they have moved the Lahore High Court and challenged the appointment of three non-cadre officers- Ayesha Ranjha, Hassan Akhtar Khan and Fatima Sheikh.
Dogar prayed to the court that appointment of Ayesha Ranjha should be declared void as she has been appointed to BS-19 post despite the fact that she belongs to Land Revenue Services Group in grade BS-18.
Similarly, he also petitioned the court to declare the appointment of Hassan Akhtar Khan and Fatima Sheikh illegal as well.
The superior courts have already laid down a dictum that junior officers cannot be posted to a senior grade post. Further, he said that Ayesha Ranjha neither belongs to All Pakistan Unified Group (APUG) nor to PMS, which is illegal according to service rules for the appointment of BS-19.
The LHC served notices to parties concerned and sought reply till January 22, 2018.
Abdul Razak Dogar lamented that posting of non-cadre federal officers is without any legal or moral justification.
He said the young PMS officers were dejected over the reduction of their footprints at administrative posts and had low morale after deputation of non-administrative officers at their seats.
“Discrimination against PMS officers in terms of their promotions, postings, transfers, training and other service related matters should be ended and they should be given due share in promotions, postings and other matters of governance,” he stated.
It has been learnt that over 100 non-cadre federal government officers are working on lucrative posts in Punjab on deputation and some are even passing their usual deputation period.
The PMS officers already face discrimination at the hands of District Management Group (DMG) officers and they are not given due share in promotions and lucrative postings. The provincial officers claim that the DMG officers have turned Punjab into their personal playground and posting of irrelevant federal officers has further added to the misery of PMS officers.
