Delinquent officials to face dismissal from service

Three RMC officials issued show cause notices under PEEDA Act, 2006

RAWALPINDI:

The process of dismissal from service under the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability Act, 2006 (PEEDA) has been initiated against the civil servants involved in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s violent protest at the gate of the General Headquarters of Pakistan Army on May 9.

Show cause notices have been issued to an arrested employee of the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) as well as to Municipal Labour Union CBA President Haroon Rasheed and General Secretary Shahid Raza Padri, who have gone missing to shun arrests. Sources said raids are under way to arrest both officials.

Meanwhile, show cause notices have also been issued against employees of the education, health and other departments for their involvement in vandalism during the violent protests and shouting slogans against the state, and raids are also being carried out for their arrests.

After identifying the civil servants in violent protests, vandalism, chanting anti-state slogans and attacking the public and private properties at the GHQ gate on Murree Road through video clips and pictures uploaded on social media as well as the CCTV footage, the military officials in a meeting with Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha and heads of other government departments had recommended action in light of the undeniable evidence against the delinquent public officials as per law.

At this, the commissioner has decided to take action against the civil servants for their involvement in the violent protests under the PEEDA Act, 2006.

In this regard, RMC employees Muhammad Idris, Data Processing Assistant (BPS-11), Labour Union President Haroon Rasheed, Junior Clerk (BPS-11) and Labour Union General Secretary Shahid Raza Padri, Junior Clerk (BPS-11) have been directed in a show-cause-cum-personal hearing notice issued under the PEEDA Act, 2006 to appear before the Commissioner's office on May 17 and explain as to why they took part in the activities of a political party, attacked the GHQ gate, vandalised public and private property and raised anti-state slogans.

“Based on the irrefutable evidence provided to the RMC administrator in the forms of video clips, why should your services not be dismissed under the PEEDA Act, 2006?” the notices read.

Meanwhile, efforts are being made to identify and arrest the employees of other government departments including WASA, RDA, PHA, education and health departments, who participated in the protests on May 9.

Authorities are searching for video clips of all such employees participating in violent protests so that action may be taken against them under the PEEDA Act, 2006.

The case of the attack on GHQ was registered in RA Bazar Police Station on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Riaz, in which it was alleged that on May 9 at 5:50pm, 250 to 300 protesters headed towards the GHQ from Saddar. The protesters, who were armed with petrol bombs and batons, also raised slogans against the Pakistan Army.

The protesters stormed GHQ Gate No. 1 at the instigation of their leaders after breaking its gate. They broke the windows and doors of the GHQ building and severely damaged the government property inside and outside the building and started fire by throwing petrol bombs.

The accused set fire and pelted stones at the personnel on duty and spread fear and panic.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2023.