October 17, 2003	Friday	Sha'aban 20, 1424

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PESHAWAR, Oct 16: The replacement of a woman officer of the Directorate of Social Welfare and Women Development by an officer on deputation from Pakistan Study Centre has caused resentment among social welfare officers.

The officers expressed indignation over the transfer of Social Welfare Director Zarina Imdad and her replacement by Prof Fakhrul Islam, a teacher who has been brought on deputation from Pakistan Study Centre of the University of Peshawar.

Ms Imdad is a senior-most career social welfare officer and was the only woman head of a government department. She had been posted as deputy secretary of the social welfare and women development. Whereas, Prof Fakhrul Islam was on deputation and was until his latest posting a member of the core groups on education and food department.

The MMA government had formed core groups or task forces comprising largely of party sympathisers and affiliates.

“He is neither from the secretariat group nor he is from the district management group. This is the only grade-18 post that we have in the directorate. We have spent 30 years of our service in hope of becoming a director some day. But here we are. In the past, officers from the DMG or the Provincial Secretariat Group were hoisted on us as directors and now we have an officer on deputation coming over from the University of Peshawar with no background in the subject,” one officer, seeking anonymity, said.

Opposition in the NWFP Assembly has been accusing the MMA government of posting party sympathisers to key positions.

Mr Fakhrul Islam, however, defended his posting. He told Dawn that his posting and deputation was legal and done in accordance with the law.

He said that he was a grade-19 officer and the provincial government sought his services keeping in view his PhD qualification.