- Senators rue failure to provide complete lists of domicile of civil servants, overstaying of officers on deputations
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet while pondering over issues pertaining to deputation, promotions and appointments of civil servants in Pakistan showed great concern over the failure of Establishment Division to provide them with a complete list of bureaucrats on deputation in different departments.
The meeting of the Senate committee was held on Tuesday under the Chairmanship of Senator Talha Mahmood and attended by Senators Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Mushahidullah Khan, Rubina Khalid, Sitara Ayaz, Najma Hameed and senior officers of the Establishment Division.
Establishment Division Joint Secretary Musaddiq A Khan briefed the committee about officers working in the federal government agencies on deputation. A working paper on the subject was submitted that provided province wise details of officers that were sent to Islamabad on deputation.
Senator Talha Mahmood took strict notice of domicile details not being made available on the list. Joint Secretary Musaddiq A Khan clarified that deputation was basically an agreement between two governments.
Since there is no quota for deputations, such details remain with the parent agency of recruitment, he said.
Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi showed concern regarding the number of officers over-staying their period of deputation, which is initially three years. Musaddiq was of the view that in order to determine reasons for an extension, it was imperative that each case is studied minutely.
Elaborating upon reasons for demanding a complete list of officers on deputation, Senator Abbasi said that the committee wished to procure details of the number of officers violating the law.
Talha Mahmood showed concern that most of the officers had no expertise of the position on which they were deputed. He asserted that all such cases must be sent back to the parent organisation, adding that the Establishment Division must review the matter and outline the laws to amend this.
He was also concerned about adverse effects on promotions of officers working under individuals sent on deputation.
Senator Talha Mahmood further asserted that only those officers, who are required by the organisation, must be sent on deputation. He directed the Establishment Division to provide a one-page summary on every case at least four days ahead of the next meeting.
He also instructed that a letter of apology must be sent by the Establishment Division to the committee apologising that details that the committee required were not provided in the working paper.
While discussing the distribution of promotional quota between all occupational groups from grade 21-22, the Establishment Division shared details of the apportioned posts of the Federal Secretariat among various occupational groups. According to the working paper, there were a total of 41 additional secretary level posts and 39 of federal secretary level.
While discussing the public petition regarding the issuance of confirmation order to government servants after successful completion of probation period, Senator Mahmood took strict notice of the absence of the petitioner. He stated that in future if the petitioner was not present, the petition would be dismissed.
Senator Abbasi said that moving a petition without the supplicant was not possible since according to law, it was imperative that he be present to defend his petition.
