Another embarrassment for PM

[Maroof Hussain Chishty]

Another embarrassment for PM

By Ansar Abbasi
Wednesday, January 26, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court action against re-employed police officers, including the IGP Sindh and DG FIA is likely to cause another huge embarrassment to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as he had approved these extensions in violation of the policy.

Sources in the Establishment Division confided to The News that re-employment of all the retired police officers, including IG Sindh and DG FIA, whose list is provided to the apex court, was allowed by Prime Minister Gilani himself.

These sources said that none of the re-employed officers met the strict criteria of re-employment as reflected in the Estacode but still all of them were given post-retirement extension in service because of political pressures. DG FIA was ordered to be arrested by the SC on Tuesday.

Last week, the Establishment Division submitted to the apex court what is considered an incomplete list of nine senior officers of the law enforcing agencies employed on contract basis including Inspector General Police Sindh Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khatak (BPS-22), Waseem Ahmed, director general Federal Investigation Authority (BPS-21), Tariq Jamil, director Intelligence Bureau Karachi, Deen Muhammad Baloch, DIG Larkana, Khurram Gulzar, DIG Sindh, Mian Akhtar Hayat, AIG Railways Lahore, Nadir Hussain Khoso, Asghar Mehmood and Farman Ali, DIG Gilgit-Baltistan.

The court had asked secretary Establishment Division to also give reasons for allowing them to continue on such posts like IG and DG, which are of high importance and the persons occupying these posts are supposed to be responsible to ensure the rule of law in the country.

According to the sources, the Estacode discusses the re-employment policy in detail and sets the parameters for such appointments. The Estacode says: “Re-employment after superannuation: It has been noticed that ministries/divisions initiate proposals for re-employment of government servants after superannuation as a routine measure. It is emphasized that re-employment beyond superannuation should be an exception and not the rule. It may be recommended only on cases where government considers that the experience gained by the retiring person in of vital importance and can be gainfully utilized, particularly in fields where suitably qualified and experienced persons are not available.”

“2. For achievement of the objectives above, the present government has framed a policy for re-employment of government servants and cases for re-employment would, in future, be considered in accordance with the following criteria: (i) Non availability of suitably qualified or experienced officers to replace the retiring officers; (ii) The officer is a highly competent person with distinction in his profession/field. (iii) The re-employment does not cause a promotion block; and (iv) Retention of the retiring officer, for a specified period, is in the public interest.

This policy would also apply to government controlled corporations and other autonomous bodies.” According to the Estacode even the cabinet has decided not to give re-employments to retired officers as a routine.

It says: “The cabinet in its meeting held on 12-11-1990 has decided that no re-employment beyond the age of superannuation should be allowed except in very exceptional cases for which approval of the prime minister would need to be obtained.”

The Estacode also emphasizes: “The ministries/divisions are advised not to initiate cases of re-employment of civil servants beyond the age of superannuation unless that is considered unavoidable due to non-availability of his replacement and the importance and sensitivity of the job which must be clearly brought out while initiating any such proposal.”