ECP wants deputation officers recalled

In a significant move, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has instructed the Establishment Division to promptly recall officers serving in provincial deputation positions for over three years to return to their original cadres.

In a letter addressed to the Establishment Division secretary, the ECP has requested a list of such officers in grades 17 to 22 within a four-day timeframe. The directive has stirred apprehension among the affected officers, with some contemplating legal action.

The ECP has clarified that its directive does not apply to officers of the Pakistan Administrative Service and the Police Service of Pakistan. Following the ECP's letter, the Establishment Division has issued an office memorandum.

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Furthermore, the Establishment Division has notified the administrative secretaries of all cadres to provide lists of officers serving on deputation in the provinces.

In response to the ECP's order, the Establishment Division initiated the process of compiling a list of deputation officers, even working on a holiday.

It is worth noting that the ECP's directive primarily affects officers in provincial deputation roles for more than three years and does not pertain to those on deputation with the federal government.

In a related development, in 2021, the Lahore High Court (LHC) established a three-year deputation period for government officers, allowing the relevant authority to reassign them to their respective departments as needed.

The LHC ruling clarified the deputation procedure, which was not explicitly defined in the Punjab Civil Service Act, 1974.

The Supreme Court's past rulings on deputation were also cited in the judgment, emphasizing that there is no substantive difference between transfer and deputation, based on the court's accepted definition.