ECP bans bureaucratic reshuffle at federal level

Commission says ban to stay in place till caretaker set-up formed

ISLAMBAD:

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday prohibited transfers and postings at the federal level until the formation of the caretaker government.

In a letter to Establishment Division Secretary Inamullah Khan Dharejo, the commission wrote that it had learnt that various divisions and ministries were planning large-scale transfers and postings.

ECP Secretary Omar Hamid Khan reminded the Establishment Division official that the National Assembly had been dissolved and the federal cabinet de-notified.

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He added that the caretaker prime minister and their cabinet would be instituted soon.

“It is, therefore, desirable and advised that till institution of caretaker government at [the] federal level, postings/transfers may be avoided,” he continued.

The ECP secretary further wrote that as soon as the caretaker government was installed, transfers and postings could be “made in accordance” with the law as well as policy.

In January this year, the ECP directed the caretaker governments of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to ensure the immediate termination of services of all heads of institutions appointed on political grounds and to send their lists to the commission immediately.

In a set of guidelines issued for the interim set-ups in Punjab and K-P., the ECP also sought vacation of the government residential facilities from former chief ministers and their advisers; provincial ministers; and MNAs of the two provinces.

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The commission also told the caretaker governments to ensure the withdrawal of official vehicles from them.

In April this year, the PTI challenged in the Lahore High Court the ECP's notification, which granted the caretaker government of Punjab blanket permission to transfer, post and appoint officers in the province without seeking prior approval from the commission.

In the petition, the PTI requested the court to restrain the ECP from mechanically granting approval to the unwarranted large-scale requests of transfers and postings submitted by the respondent Punjab caretaker government unless each case was examined by the commission under the criteria laid down in Section 230 of the Elections Act 2017.

Later that month, the ECP’s lawyer informed the court that the notification had been withdrawn.

He added that the ECP had imposed a ban on transfers and postings in Punjab.

The ECP lawyer continued that the caretaker government had been asked to seek prior approval of the commission and provide reasons for each transfer.

(With input from agencies)