MULTAN: In violation of its own policy, the Punjab government has posted a BS-17 officer, who also happen to be a close relative of a ruling party MPA, as Multan additional commissioner revenue, a BS-19 post, Dawn has learnt.

Amjad Saleem Sargana, a BS-17 officer on special duty (OSD), has been posted as Multan additional commissioner (revenue) on June 20, replacing Muhammad Arshad Khan Gopang, who has been directed to report to the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) with immediate effect.

Sources said that to accommodate Mr Sargana the notification of his transfer was issued late on June 20 at 11pm.

They said that an officer could be posted against a post one grade higher than his/her own pay basic scale, but Mr Sargana who is a close relative of a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI ) MPA from Jhang, has been assigned a post two grades higher than his own pay scale.

The sources said Mr Sargana’s posting orders were issued despite the chief minister secretariat being informed by the authorities concerned that he was a junior officer and could not be appointed against a post two grades higher that his own pay scale.

Ruling party lawmakers ‘recommendation ‘a must’ to get posted

They said that as the additional commissioner (revenue) was the competent authority to hear appeals against the decisions of deputy commissioner regarding revenue matters, it would be an anomaly that a BS-17 officer would judge the verdicts of a senior officer (BS-19).

They said the Mr Sargana’s appointment had been made when many BS-19 officers were awaiting posting.

As per the policy, only BS-19 officers could be posted as additional secretaries, additional commissioners and deputy commissioners. However, a BS-18 officer could also be posted against these positions in his own pay and scale.

Earlier, on Oct 29, 2018, the provincial government had posted a junior officer, Rao Imtiaz Ahmed, as Lodhran deputy commissioner allegedly on the recommendation of a former office-bearer of the PTI from the area who is very close to the party head Prime Minister Imran Khan. Mr Ahmad ranked 117th on the seniority list of 122 at that time.

Meanwhile, on June 22, City Police Officer Imran Mehmood issued a letter to all divisional SPs, SDPOs, station house officers (SHOs) and police post in-charges, stating that elected representatives, including the members of national and provincial assemblies had been complaining of “non-cooperative attitude” of police, citing “lack of coordination” between the force and the parliamentarians.

“As the elected representatives are much respectable for us, so remain in close touch with them,” he directed his subordinates.

He also directed them to hold frequent meetings with the lawmakers of their areas, adding that all the officials should have the contact numbers of the parliamentarians of their respective areas, the phone call of the parliamentarians should be attended immediately. They were directed to call back to a parliamentarian if they could not attend his/her call for any reason.

Similarly, the sources said that Dr Ali Mehdi, a close relative of a provincial minister from Muzaffargarh was posted as Nishtar Hospital deputy medical superintendent a couple of months back. He was later elevated to the post of additional medical superintendent (Admin) to oblige the minister.

Sources said the chief minister secretariat had strictly barred the authorities concerned from posting any officer without the recommendation of a PTI parliamentarians till the passing of fiscal budget.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2019