Unyielding PCS, PMS officers: Strike threatened till chief secretary is removed

Several officials have been victimised through unwarranted enquiries

PESHAWAR: Officers of the Provincial Civil Service (PCS) and Provincial Management Service (PMS) warned the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government they will continue their pen-down strike till the chief secretary is removed from his post.

Speaking at a news conference in Peshawar Press Club on Saturday, PCS Officers Association President Fahad Akram Qazi said about 700 PMS officers were observing a complete pen-down strike across the province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas for the past few days.



He said the matter was pending at the K-P Assembly for over a year. However, so far it has not been resolved.

The association president said the provincial assembly has yet to exercise its powers under Article 240(b) of the Constitution. Under the law, posting of Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) officers in the province is illegal and an injustice to 600 PCS and PMS officers. As a result, this will delay justice for officers of the province.

Qazi said the K-P Assembly is the sole custodian of civil service under article 240(b).

He said the posting of PAS officers to this province is unconstitutional, illegal, an injustice to PMS officers and the root-cause of poor governance.

According to Qazi, there are less than 100 PAS officers serving in the province. Meanwhile, PCS has a strength of about 700 officers.

“PAS officers occupy all key provincial posts,” he said. “All PAS officers (between BS-17 to BS-22) posted in the province perform necessary functions. This negates the autonomy granted through the 18th Constitutional Amendment.”  Qazi said the issue has put the career of about 700 officers in jeopardy and would determine the future of this province.

“Several PCS and PMS officers have been victimised through unwarranted enquiries,” he said.

The association president said all enquiries should be concluded and action must be taken against those who have initiated such biased enquiries.



“Moreover, PCS and PMS officers have been targeted by PAS,” he said. “As a result, perpetrators of those who have been victimised should be taken to task accordingly.

He added PMS officers have been discriminated against regarding postings, promotions and trainings.

“This systematic discrimination should come to an end immediately,” he said. “Administrative steps must be taken to safeguard PMS officers against such discrimination in future.”

He said there are more than 90 officers on deputations from various federal and provincial departments serving at various positions.

“This has adversely affected the system of postings and promotions,” he added.

Qazi added, “We have submitted a draft on civil services reforms wherein various recommendations have been made to improve quality of the civil service in the province.”

He added, “However, the K-P government failed to respond even after lapse of six months.” The officers held the provincial chief secretary responsible for the issue and urged the K-P government to remove him and introduce a new service structure for them.

On Monday, PCS Officers Association initiated a complete pen-down strike across K-P and Fata. According to senior officials of the cadre, the initial plan was to hold a strike for two days after which the association would start a sit-in at Civil Secretariat.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2016.