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

Letter To The Editor: Drawbacks of Political Inductions

Drawbacks of Political Inductions
The Frontier Post
23-04-2013

Degree is degree, whether fake or genuine. These words of Aslam Raisani clearly signify the political mindset of this country. Slaughter of merit and devaluing a competent and well educated person is not a new practice. In past, whosoever came into power always misused his authority by inducting unskillful and inexpedient people on key posts.
Chairman of Ogra and many other posts being filled through MNA’s and MPA’s are worth citing examples. Actually, political inductions are promoted and practiced due to several reasons. The main reason of such extra-constitutional moves is to influence elections and administration for vested political interests. In laws, we used to read that a civil servant should be non-partisan but in practice the situation is totally different.
There is a misconceived notion that a civil servant will never flourish if he is not acquainted with a ruling political party. And, whosoever tries to raise objections over the misuse of authority, his fate will be made an example for all preachers and promoters of merit. Case of Anita Turab speaks volume in this regard.
No doubt, there is no dearth of talent in Pakistan. People are endowed with a number of qualities but they have no opportunities to excel their professional traits. Unless seats are not filled through merit and non-political basis, attainment of administrative efficiency can never be achieved.
It is therefore, Supreme Court and the care-taker government should scrutinize the jobs given in the last five years. It goes without saying that there are thousands of civil servants serving on higher and lower cadres who can not even write a single letter.
Their efficiency and administrative qualities is a biggest question mark on the previous government.
No doubt, Pakistan is democratically flourishing but administratively it is weakening. For absolute democratic culture, it is necessary to bring some changes in existing recruitment criteria. Besides, political inductees or Officials affiliated with a certain political party should also be held accountable of their actions, if they fall prey to any political activity.
Remember, on 25th of March 1948 Quaid-I-Azam said to the civil servants that you have nothing to do with the politics. You are only responsible of administrative duties.
Hence, prior to de-politicization of institutions, civil servants must de-politicize themselves in order make Pakistan the most efficient and delivering country.

Waqar Abro
Karachi