GDA, PPP up in arms over posting of Sindh bureaucracy

PPP leader writes letter to ECP, demanding reversal of transfers of 137 ACs

KARACHI: With the general elections fast approaching, the transfers and postings of bureaucrats and senior administration officials has become a bone of contention in Sindh.

A few days ago, the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) - a coalition of various political parties and groups united against the PPP in Sindh - demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to post "impartial" officers on administrative positions. They threatened to launch a protest movement if the bureaucratic structure wasn't changed.  "All officers are PPP government nominees who may play a role in rigging the polls," said GDA leader Pir Pagara in a press conference on June 20. "We need impartial officers in the province," he stressed.



Soon after his press conference, the provincial caretaker setup ordered a massive reshuffle in the bureaucracy, transferring and reposting commissioners, deputy commissioners, DIGs and SSPs across the province. This was followed by the transfers of 137 assistant commissioners on June 26. These officers were also working as assistant returning officers. This seems to have irked the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which has now written a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the provincial election commissioner and caretaker chief minister to withdraw the latest notifications.  "All transfers and postings of 137 assistant commissioners and assistant returning officers have been made in violation of ECP directives," says the letter signed by Lal Bux Bhutto, a member of the party's central election cell.

According to Bhutto, no officer can be transferred without prior approval from the ECP.  Referring to notifications and directives issued by the election commission, Bhutto said that after the issuance of the election schedule on May 31, no officer could be transferred in the province.



"It is noted with great concern and regret that this exercise has been undertaken without any cogent reason and in violation of Section 5 (4) and Section 230 (F) of the Election Act, 2017, which provides that no authority or government including the caretaker government shall post or transfer any official without prior written approval of the election commission," says the letter.

Bhutto drew the authorities' attention towards the illegalities and irregularities, which according to him, would hinder the smooth conduct of elections and amounted to pre-poll rigging.  He demanded the Chief Election Commissioner and caretaker chief minister to cancel all the orders for transfers and postings and allow the officers to continue in their old roles. "These officers have also received training on how to conduct the polls. I don't know why the caretaker government has suddenly transferred them," he said.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Bhutto, who is a senior leader of the party and has also served as a federal minister, threatened to launch a protest movement and use other legal means if the transfer orders were not withdrawn.



On the other hand, GDA leaders warned to resist any move to revert the orders. "PPP had planned to rig the polls, which is why they inducted their own assistant commissioners in different districts of Sindh. With the appointment of neutral officers, free and fair elections will be held," said GDA secretary general Ayaz Latif.

With regards to the PPP leaders' grievances Palijo said: "They are making a hue and cry because their plan to rig the elections has now been foiled."

Meeting with provincial election commissioner

Meanwhile, leaders of various political parties met the provincial election commissioner Yousaf Khattak on Thursday and expressed reservations over the removal of their posters and banners from different areas of Karachi.



Party leaders of the PPP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and others expressed the view that they were not being given a level playing field to conduct their election campaigns. "The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees each and every political party the right to run an election campaign.  We want to know who is working against it," demanded PPP leader Saeed Ghani.

Khattak assured the delegation members he would work to resolve their issues and take up the matter with the provincial administration.