Letter To The Editor: Deputation Virus

Deputation virus

The Frontier Post 

29-04-2013

Recently, a press report revealed that more than 300 civil servants of different cadres had been posted in Office management Group by the former ruling party ppp. Posting officials on deputations is not a new practice.
Every government after coming into power reshuffles bureaucracy in order to benefit its close aids. The misuse of authority begins when a person who is not capable enough, has been posted on deputation.
Despite Supreme Court orders, there are thousands of civil servants posted in various departments under the tag of deputations.
When political interests are involved then why to shame while bypassing the rules laid down in the civil service ac?
This is the mindset of our so called democratic leaders. In the name of democracy ruling political parties always try to achieve their own political interests.
The most unfortunate thing is that there is not a single political party which is supposed to be in absolute majority.
This pluralistic politics compels different political parties to form government under the name of consensus policy which further aggravates our public sector organizations. But the point required for attention here who is the employer of civil servants, government or state? Managing administration affairs is not a child’s play.
It demands experience and administrative expertise to execute official duties adequately and expediently. However, it is the established fact that without assent of senior bureaucrats our politicians can never place a wrong man on the right job.
Yes, they are manipulated and offered fruitful- fringes in order to fulfill political interest but Pakistan’s interest is more important than any other interest.
In a judgement Supreme court had said to honest and loyal officers that they did not need to obey unconstitutional orders of the government.
Supreme court would guard their interest if they were maligned or manipulated by the ruling political elite. But, meager salaries always incite our bureaucrats to fall prey to dishonest practices.
Until structural changes are not brought, changing the status quo administration system is not possible. Civil servants should also realize that public interest is of high importance. It is therefore, they reckon themselves a civil servant is a public servant rather than politicians servant.

Waqar Abro
Karachi