Hear us out: PCS officers reiterate demands to CM

Warn of another pen-down strike if genuine issues not addressed

PESHAWAR: Officers of the Provincial Civil Services (PCS) have appealed to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to take notice of demands forwarded to him. The officials said their demands have yet to be addressed even though Khattak has approved them.

The PCS association held a meeting on Thursday in the city. The moot was headed by the body’s chairperson, Abdullah Mehsud. A statement from the association said the scenario emerging from the ministers’ committee report was discussed. It added the report was approved by the chief minister and sent to the chief secretary for compliance.

The statement added no steps had been taken for implementation. The government officers believed this showed ma la fide intentions.

“As of now, not a single demand has been fulfilled,” it read. “Instead of complying with the chief minister’s orders, a heavy contingent of police and other forces were deployed at the secretariat. [Moreover], PCS officers are unnecessarily bothered in districts to create tension despite the fact that the association has not announced any [potential course of action].”

The association wondered if its members would be the subject of baton charges or even arrests if they held a peaceful protest. The association voiced its concern over the government’s silence.  “The ministers have been approached several times for a formal meeting, but are not responding nor taking any steps to stop arbitrary acts of the administration.”

The officers said the chief secretary has yet to withdraw “biased transfer orders” of association members despite the orders of the chief minister.

The government servants appealed to the chief minister to address their demands and threatened another pen-down strike if the situation persisted.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2016.