KARACHI: Governor gives reasons for effecting transfers
KARACHI, July 29: Sindh Governor Muhammadmian Soomro has said the provincial government will abide by the directives issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan concerning the transfers and postings of the officers in the province.
The transfers and postings so far made were not with the intent of getting any political mileage out of the exercise. In fact, the changes were administrative in nature, he said while talking to a group of journalists at the Governor House after the swearing-in of the acting chief justice of Sindh High Court.
However, the new financial year has just begun and it would be in the fitness of things that officials are posted from the very beginning of the year so that the ongoing process is not disturbed by mid-of-the-year postings.
He said that when new officials come at a time when the financial year is about to close, the funds allocated then are lapsed. Similarly, the officials who show good performance, need to be placed at places where they are needed more.
Besides, he said, a transition period is being witnessed after 150 years. During this period, it will be better if maximum number of officials are relocated so as to allow them to have exposure in the practical field, he said.
Similarly, we have to keep the requirements of elections in view. He said all elections are to take place the same day and we need to have officials who could cope with law and order as well as the issue of logistics. So many factors have to be kept in view when taking decisions about transfer and posting.
About law and order, Mr Soomro said barring a couple of incidents which took place, it was very much under control. When asked about any progress made towards the recovery of a top customs officer, Aftab Baloch, he said: “We have to be very careful while taking any step as it is a very delicate case.” He was confident that the collector will be recovered safely.
The governor observed that such incidents were part of the attempts made by certain elements who were out to disturb peace and hamper the development effort in the province.
He observed that the collector customs’ kidnap episode was a well-thought-out and well-conceived act. “It is certainly an aspect that has to be considered.”
Overall, you see how many police actions have taken place and how many searches carried out and suspects picked up in Karachi, the governor said. The case of kidnapping is a sad incident but we are hopeful of positive results, he added.
When told that lifting of ban on issuance of arms licences could trigger an arms race, affecting the government’s deweaponization drive, he said: “We will act in a very balanced way while issuing arms licences.”
He pointed out that the police, Rangers and army “are assisting in maintaining law and order. Police encounters have taken place at different places in which many criminals have been killed,” he added.—PPI/APP
