PHOTO: FILE
In a welcome development, Railways Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asmatullah Junejo issued orders to regularise 103 constables and head constables serving at the railways department a few days ago.
“I can’t express in words how happy and relieved I am today,” said Muhammad Daud, a head constable serving in the railways since 1995.
“This is a huge relief for me and my family,” he exclaimed.
Daud said that services of a number of policemen had not been confirmed during their service, resulting in multitude of problems they were facing since their retirement.
“The police officials, after retirement, were taken aback when the authorities informed them that they were not entitled to benefits such as pension, gratuity, benevolent or provident funds as they have never been regularized”, he lamented.
“Many of the policemen who will retire in the next four to five years, would have faced the same difficulties, if they had not been confirmed,” Daud said.
Sanab Gul, a constable since 2000, expressed relief over the announcement.
Before the confirmation, the policemen who worked on contract for years were given same salary and benefits as others.
The policemen were recruited from Karachi and Sukkur and later transferred to Rawalpindi. Usually, the constables are automatically confirmed after a year of service.
“Instead of being written on ‘probation period’, the official record carried the word ‘temporary period’ creating problems,” a Railways official told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity.
“Our retired colleagues ran from pillar to post but to no avail,” he added.
Junejo said that the employees could now avail perks and privileges as a regular public servants.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2015.
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