PMSA withholds strike decision
Decision held until the findings of an inquiry committee report become available.
LAHORE:
The Provincial Management Services Association (PMSA) has decided to hold its decision to go on a strike against the alleged beating of a PMS officer by a district management group (DMG) officer until the findings of an inquiry committee report become available on Monday, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Rai Manzoor Nasir, the PMSA president, said that the association will chalk out its strategy after reviewing the recommendations of the report.
The three-member committee formed by the provincial government in response to the PMSA’s ultimatum of a strike for an indefinite period has recorded statements of Shafqat-ur-Rehman Ranjha, the Punjab Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) managing director who is accused of beating Muhammad Ataullah Siddiqi, the PMDC secretary, as well as other officials allegedly involved in the incident.
Ranjha has rejected the allegations. In his statements, he has said that the PMS officer was trying to unfairly malign his reputation.
An official privy to the inquiry proceedings told The Express Tribune that the evidence indicated that the incident did take place.
He said that the committee could recommend initiation of criminal proceedings against Ranjha, his repatriation to federal government or suspension from service.
The inquiry committee is headed by Haseeb Athar, a DMG officer.
Others members of the committee include Jalal Sikander Sultan Raja, the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) secretary, and the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department secretary.
The S&GAD secretary has said previously that if allegations against Ranjha were established departmental proceedings would be initiated against him. He said such incidents should not be condoned as they would discredit the civil services.
Talking to the media this Wednesday, Siddiqui had said that Ranjha had called him to his chamber on Monday and started beating him without any explanation.
He said that Ranjha, his security guard Umer Ijaz and Sarfaraz Kakar, a general manager, beat him until he fainted.
“I had four options,” Siddiqui said, adding, that he thought of “committing suicide, killing Ranjha, staying silent or registering a criminal case against him under terrorism act.”
After consulting his colleagues, Siddiqui said, he decided to fight a legal battle against Ranjha.
He said that he had joined the Punjab Civil Service (PCS) in 1996 as a section officer in BS-17 and was now working as secretary in the PMDC.
He said he had already written a letter to the Punjab Mines and Mineral Development secretary reporting incidents of abuse of authority and financial irregularities committed by Ranjha.
Rai Nasir had warned on Wednesday that the PMSA would go on strike and prevent official work from Monday if the government failed to arrest Ranjha or recommend his dismissal.
He had also criticised the political leadership of the province “for not having the slightest of courtesy” and failing to call on Siddiqui after to incident and inquire about his health.
He alleged that the chief minister and his team had become hostages to DMG officers. “A senior officer was beaten up brutally, yet the Punjab chief minister has not taken any action,” he had said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2010.
The Provincial Management Services Association (PMSA) has decided to hold its decision to go on a strike against the alleged beating of a PMS officer by a district management group (DMG) officer until the findings of an inquiry committee report become available on Monday, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Rai Manzoor Nasir, the PMSA president, said that the association will chalk out its strategy after reviewing the recommendations of the report.
The three-member committee formed by the provincial government in response to the PMSA’s ultimatum of a strike for an indefinite period has recorded statements of Shafqat-ur-Rehman Ranjha, the Punjab Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) managing director who is accused of beating Muhammad Ataullah Siddiqi, the PMDC secretary, as well as other officials allegedly involved in the incident.
Ranjha has rejected the allegations. In his statements, he has said that the PMS officer was trying to unfairly malign his reputation.
An official privy to the inquiry proceedings told The Express Tribune that the evidence indicated that the incident did take place.
He said that the committee could recommend initiation of criminal proceedings against Ranjha, his repatriation to federal government or suspension from service.
The inquiry committee is headed by Haseeb Athar, a DMG officer.
Others members of the committee include Jalal Sikander Sultan Raja, the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) secretary, and the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department secretary.
The S&GAD secretary has said previously that if allegations against Ranjha were established departmental proceedings would be initiated against him. He said such incidents should not be condoned as they would discredit the civil services.
Talking to the media this Wednesday, Siddiqui had said that Ranjha had called him to his chamber on Monday and started beating him without any explanation.
He said that Ranjha, his security guard Umer Ijaz and Sarfaraz Kakar, a general manager, beat him until he fainted.
“I had four options,” Siddiqui said, adding, that he thought of “committing suicide, killing Ranjha, staying silent or registering a criminal case against him under terrorism act.”
After consulting his colleagues, Siddiqui said, he decided to fight a legal battle against Ranjha.
He said that he had joined the Punjab Civil Service (PCS) in 1996 as a section officer in BS-17 and was now working as secretary in the PMDC.
He said he had already written a letter to the Punjab Mines and Mineral Development secretary reporting incidents of abuse of authority and financial irregularities committed by Ranjha.
Rai Nasir had warned on Wednesday that the PMSA would go on strike and prevent official work from Monday if the government failed to arrest Ranjha or recommend his dismissal.
He had also criticised the political leadership of the province “for not having the slightest of courtesy” and failing to call on Siddiqui after to incident and inquire about his health.
He alleged that the chief minister and his team had become hostages to DMG officers. “A senior officer was beaten up brutally, yet the Punjab chief minister has not taken any action,” he had said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2010.