Public Servants in the Pakistani Province of Sindh are demanding the Government redresses what they say is the unjust treatment of officers seeking promotion to senior positions.
Spokespeople for the officers say that despite qualifying and having significant experience behind them, many are repeatedly denied their due promotions.
They say at least nine meetings of the Promotion Board were convened during the course of the year only for them to be either postponed without any proceedings, or announcing that all promotions before it had been deferred.
One aggrieved officer put the blame squarely on members of the elite Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS).
“PAS higher-ups have made a mockery out of the promotional process for the Provincial Civil Service,” the officer, who wished to remain anonymous, claimed
“This is the worst era in the history of our bureaucracy. The Government has made reforms, but they have come to nothing,” they said.
“The reins of the provincial bureaucracy are still in the hands of Federal employees,” the officer said.
However, a spokesperson for the PAS dismissed allegations that it was interfering in the administration of Sindh other than following rules that had always been in place.
The spokesperson claimed that two of the Provinces’ highest offices — Chief Secretary and Police Chief — had always been directly filled by the Federal Government, and this would continue.
This was disputed by the All Pakistan Provincial Civil Services Association (APPCSA).
In letters written to all Provincial Chief Ministers the APPCSA cited a 1949 agreement which, it said, supported the Provinces’ right to appoint the two officers in question, claiming this had been usurped by the PAC over the years.
Islamabad, 7 December 2020
