LAHORE – The Punjab government has finally offered an olive branch to the disgruntled provincial service officers, after they protested for their demands in front of the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday, sources told Pakistan Today.
A large number of provincial service officers under the banner of PCS Officers’ Association gathered on the Mall Road and protested for their demands. Officers of all grades participated in the protest. They were holding banners and placards inscribed with their demands and sought the chief minister’s intervention in the issue.
Some opposition members of the provincial assembly (MPA) also joined them in their protest and showed their support for their cause. Sources revealed that the chief minister has formed a committee to hold fresh talks with PCS officers and listen to their demands.
The PCS Officers Association has nominated a six-member committee, which will hold talks with senior politicians and present their demands. “The provincial service officers will meet the chief minister’s committee on Tuesday late night and present their demands,” they added.
PCS Officers’ Association President Rai Manzur Nasir confirmed that “a senior politician” has conveyed to him to personally nominate as many members to hold fresh talks and present their demands. He said that the six members nominated for the purpose have prepared their demands already. To a question, he said, “The exact time of the meeting is not confirmed. Yes, there are chances that it can be even tonight [Tuesday].”
The District Management Group (DMG), however, stuck to its guns and proposed action against another PMS officer Khawar Shahzad for “interfering” in government business by forcing trainees out of classes at the MPDD on March 18 to take part in the strike. Senior officers also claimed that more PMS officers have “regretted” their decision to take part in the strike and have joined offices again.
Senior officers claimed that in all 28 departments, only 12 provincial service officers remained absent, showing the negligible number aligning with the PCS Officers’ Association. In another development, the Punjab government also took notice of the office hired by the PCS Officers Association in Alfalah Building on lease.
The building affairs are run by a BPS-19 officer who comes directly under the Punjab additional chief secretary. The Punjab government took “strict” notice of the issue and “reprimanded” the officer concerned for renting out a government building to the association, which they said “used the office for activities hindering the government business”.
Senior government officers said that young officers who have recently been recruited are “welcome” to rejoin service, while the core group of “miscreants” will not be spared. “If the government starts negotiations with the troublemakers, it will give a negative impact on those who have joined work and also those who have shown indifference to the strike,” they added.
When contacted, senior politicians, including Zulfiqar Khosa and Pervaiz Rashid, dispelled the impression that the Punjab government has invited the PCS officers for talks. Talking to Pakistan Today, Senior Advisor to chief minister Zulfiqar Khosa said there is no point in having negotiations all again, when the government has already accepted all demands put up by the PCS Officers’ Association.
“Besides how can one have negotiations with someone who is on a strike? I don’t mind if someone wants to walk on the roads, but we will not let anyone interrupt the government business,” Khosa said. To a question, he said the officers observing the strike are not attending office without sanction of leave and the law will take its course if they do not resume work.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.
