Ghosts from the past: Zia-era promotion criteria may be reversed

Bureaucrats with 15 years, instead of 17, might be promoted to grade-20.

ISLAMABAD: The Central Selection Board (CSB) is considering reversing the promotion policy introduced by General Ziaul Haq by elevating top bureaucrats with a work experience of 15 years instead of 17 into grade-20.

The decision was made during the meeting of the CSB, which was chaired by Justice (retd) Rana Bhagwandas.

Under the previous set of rules, a gazetted officer was required to have a working experience of five years in BS-17, seven years in BS-18 and five years in BS-19 for elevation to grade-20.

The issue surfaced when the CSB took up the matter of promotion of District Management Group (DMG) officer Ahsan Ali Mangi. He had served just 14 years on gazetted posts.

A few years ago, sources said, two officers, one from DMG and other belonging to Police Service of Pakistan, with less than required work experience were recommended for elevation into BS-19. They had been given acting charges.

This time, the CSB has decided to request the prime minister to formulate new rules to avoid recurrence of such issues.

Meanwhile, sources said the CSB has recommended elevation of four senior joint secretaries into BS-21, including Sikandar Ahmad Rai, Yameen Khan, Ameer Ashraf and Sikandar Ismael.

The selection board also recommended the elevation of seven DMG officers into BS-20. The board is also said to have suggested the elevation of the law ministry’s deputy draftsman, Khashiur Rehman, into BS-20.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10^th, 2011.