ISLAMABAD: Over 900 officers of the Office Management Group (OMG), who were denied promotions by the Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) group and were also denied a meeting with the secretary Establishment Division, have decided to hold a sit-in outside the Establishment Division.

The officers have alleged that the PAS, which was once called the District Management Group (DMG), had through statutory regulatory orders (SRO) stopped them from getting transferred to the provinces and that PAS officers are occupying around 90pc of seats for federal secretaries.

A large number officers of OMG, earlier called the Secretariat Group, went to the Establishment Division on Tuesday to raise the matter.

The officers have set up camp outside Establishment Division

They tried to meet the secretary Establishment Division but were denied a meeting.

One of the officers told Dawn that the protesters were initially told that some of them could meet Establishment Division Secretary Maroof Afzal and that when they had reached his office, they were told that the secretary could not give them time.

“We have decided to hold a sit-in outside the Establishment Division because that is the only way our issue can be addressed,” he said.

“All officers were getting promoted on the vacant seats in their cadre and there was no confusion in this regard. However, on Feb 10, 2014, two SROs by DMG officers were issued according to which only DMG officers will be able to get posted in the provinces. Because of this, OMG officers serving in Islamabad cannot get posted in their native provinces. This caused resentment in some officers, especially those from Sindh and Balochistan,” he said.

He added that a decision was also made that DMG officers can get promoted on vacant seats in other groups or corporations and autonomous bodies.

“According to the rules, DMG officers get 25pc of deputy secretary seats, 35pc joint secretary seats, 65pc of additional secretary seats and 65pc of federal secretary seats. However, even the rules are not implemented and DMG officers get many more seats as they occupy almost 90pc of seats for federal secretaries,” he said.

Over 900 officers in basic pay scale 17 to 21 have been suffering due to this and so the decision to hold the sit-in was made, he said.

“We have filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court and even in the Federal Service Tribunal, but our issue could not be addressed,” he said.

Secretary Establishment Division Maroof Afzal could not be reached for contact despite many attempts.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Aftab Sheikh, who often respond to questions related to Establishment Division in the parliament, told Dawn that officers of both OMG and DMG groups were an important part of the government.

“It seems both groups have grievances with each other over issues of promotions and postings. I will suggest the Establishment Division secretary to invite representatives of both groups and sort out the issue,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2018