KARACHI, Aug 26: The Sindh government has filled three of the seven settled posts of grade-21 officers with eligible aspirants but given the remaining posts to grade-20 officers. Two of the grade-20 officers holding the new assignments are from Police Service and performing their duty against the positions of civil service officers.
The government has also elevated two secretaries to the post of additional chief secretary in violation of the prescribed rules which provide for only one sanctioned post of ADC (development).
Similarly, two of the provincial secretaries have been elevated to grade-21 with the status of principal secretary to governor and chief minister. After doing away with the 'One-unit', the federal government had fixed a quota of 10 posts in grade 21 for Sindh.
Out of the 10, six were regarded as 'settled' and the rest as 'floating' posts. The settled grade-21 posts had traditionally been held by assistant chief secretary (development), senior member of the Board of Revenue, chairman of the Anti-corruption Establishment (inquiry/investigation), chairman of the CM's inspection team, member (land utilization), and member (revenue and settlement).
An official given a floating post could be assigned any task of grade-21 and the posting automatically elevates him to grade-21. In the year 2001, when the devolution plan was being implemented, another post was created in grade-21 for DCO (district coordination officer). The move increased the total strength of grade-21 officials in Sindh to 11.
Out of the 11 posts, 65 per cent are determined for the posting from All-Pakistan Unified Grade (APUG) cadre making seven posts available for APUG cadre. The remaining four posts in the province are determined between PCS and PSS services under the formula of 66 per cent to PCS cadre and 33 per cent to provincial secretariat services.
Informed sources pointed out that there was no apparent reason for elevation of the officials. It is determined neither on the basis of the nature of work, nor any extraordinary performance. The apparent motive seems to be obliging an official for his 'good' work, they added.
However, the quarters close to senior bureaucrats express apprehension that if the practice of the 'out of turn promotions' and favouritism continued unchecked, it may politicize the entire bureaucracy.
They are of the view that the practice of assigning senior positions to junior officers and posting them above their seniors has not been started by the present government, but has remained in vogue for decades together. Be it a civilian government or military rule, the trend has been strengthening its roots.
All those promoted out of turn behave more like a party official than a public servant after strengthening their own position in the Establishment. Those who have been assigned new positions against the seven settled posts are Mr Ghulam Serwar Khero (PSS) grade-21, Additional Chief Secretary (Development); Mirza Karim Baig (DMG) grade-21, Senior Member BoR; Mr Asad Ashraf Malik (PSP) grade-20, Chairman Inquiry and Investigation, ACE; Mr Fayyaz Ali Khan (PSP) grade-20, Chairman CM's Inspection Team; Mr Riaz Ahmad Khan (DMG) grade-20, Member of Land Utilization; Mr Mohsin Qureshi (PCS) grade-20, Member RS&E; and Mir Hussain Ali (PCS) grade-20, DCO Karachi.
At present, the four grade-21 officials working on floating posts are Mr Anwar Haider (DMG), Additional Chief Secretary (Home); Mr Saleem Khan (DMG), Additional Chief Secretary (Local Government); Mr Aejaz Hussain Kazi (PSS), Secretary General Administration and Coordination; and Mr Shujaat Qarni (SSG) Secretary Information Technology.
The position with the appointee having been elevated to grade-21 without sanctioning by federal government is of Brig (r) Akhtar Zamin, Principal Secretary to the Governor. Another position making the appointee elevated to the grade-21 is of Mr Bakhshal Khan Gadaro, Secretary to the CM (re designated as Principal Secretary).