December 30, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 08, 1427

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MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 29: The AJK government and the AJK Ehtesab Bureau are at odds over some appointments which the government views as being against the rules laid down by the state’s apex court, Dawn has reliably learnt.

In the latest move, the AJK government asked the accountant-general’s (AG) office to stop paying salary and other allowances to two contractual employees of the bureau because it disapproved extension in their employment.

An AG office source told this correspondent here on Friday that the order was passed by the government about Israr Ayub and Amjad Ali Khan, serving as directors in BPS-19 in the bureau.

Officials said that in early August, the government had received a communication from the bureau seeking its approval of the proposed terms and conditions of service of two officials under Section 32 (1) (2) of the Ehtesab Bureau Act 2001.

Section 32 (1) reads: The (EB) chairman or any officer duly authorised by him, may appoint such officer and staff as he may consider necessary for the efficient performance of his functions and exercise of powers under the Act.” The next sub-section says: “The officers and members of staff shall be entitled to such salary, allowances and other terms and conditions of services as the chairman with the approval of the State Government may determine.”

Sources said that Law Minister Abdul Rashid Abbasi did not agree with the bureau’s proposal, maintaining that the (re)appointment of incumbents was against the rules laid down by the AJK's Supreme Court.

He said that since one of the bureau’s objectives was to prevent violation of rule of merit, it should not mar its image by indulging in the same practice.

“Instead (of resorting to violating the law), the bureau must advertise its vacant posts to provide equal employment opportunity to all eligible people,” the minister was reported to have remarked on the relevant file.

His views were upheld by Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan who subsequently refused to approve the bureau's proposals.The government, sources said, had taken a categorical stand that its approval to the terms and conditions of service of any employee was mandatory according to the relevant act and since it had not accorded any such approval in the case of the two individuals, their employment contracts had ceased to exist.

However, when the bureau was informed of the government’s position, the response was ‘shocking’ for those sitting at the seat of the government, sources said.

“The proposal of the government is sent herewith un-actioned,” sources quoted the bureau as having written to the government on Dec 6.

Sources said the official circles was seething with anger over the alleged disobedience on the part of the bureau to the government's orders and had also taken up the issue with the powers that be which matter the most in many affairs in AJK.

The government had, meanwhile, made it clear to the AG office that since the “individuals concerned were no more contractual employees of the AJK government, any payment to them would be illegal,” sources said.