Discrimination, delay in awarding of increased salaries to probation, parole officers is morally, legally unacceptable
KHAIRPUR: I am, once again, compelled to inform the relevant authorities about salaries that are being denied to parole and probation officers of Sindh. The repeated occurrence of this injustice only helps prove that the government is not mindful towards the rights of the working class.
According to the revised National Judicial Policy, 2012, the Government of Punjab is liable to provide: “Upgradation to the staff of the prison department and the incentive of upgradation and additional allowance equivalent to one basic pay salary to be extended to the staff of reclamation and probation in line with the province of Punjab”.
This law, which is binding upon other provinces as well, is being flouted. In compliance with the National Judicial Policy of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the government of Sindh’s home department upgraded the posts of all the officers in the prison department. However, the posts of the officers of the Directorate of Reclamation and Probation, Sindh, have not been upgraded so far. Unfortunately, we have been deprived of this right.
Although our director has forwarded a summary demanding increased salary for the staff of reclamation and parole, this important request has been gathering dust in the Chief Minister (CM) House since September 7, 2013, delaying the appropriation of our rightful share of income. We officers do not know why the summary for our increased salary has been blocked by the CM house since eight months. This state of affairs is creating agony and confusion in the department.
Discrimination and delay in the awarding of increased salaries to probation and parole officers is morally and legally unacceptable. Our public officials must bear in mind that the services of parole and probation officers are in connection with the courts. Therefore, the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justice of the Sindh High Court are requested to take serious notice of this grave injustice towards the probation/parole officers of Sindh.
Amir Ahmed Lashari
Parole officer
Published in The Express Tribune, May 18th, 2014.
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