18th Amendment: PAS employees argue devolution has no implication on its status

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s sub-committee on law reforms held a meeting on Tuesday over the issue between officers of Provincial Management Services (PMS) and Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS).

MPA Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli chaired the meeting and heard representatives of both groups, said officials present. The meeting was held at the K-P Assembly premises.

The conflict between two groups of employees who are literally responsible for the smooth running of the colossal government machinery came to the fore recently, in March. PMS officers have raised issues with the presence of PAS personnel in the province, citing the implementation of the 18th Amendment.

PMS employees highlighted that their services were mainly restricted to the Civil Secretariat; the issue was also raised at the K-P Assembly. A sub-committee of the standing committee on law reforms was formed to help resolve the matter.

“The committee heard the opinions of both groups and has decided to meet again on May 18,” said Tahirkheli. “The establishment department secretary and advocate general were not present today and have been asked to appear in the next meeting.” Special secretary of the establishment department Alamgir Shah told the committee they drafted a letter which the chief minister will then send to the establishment department in Islamabad to stop postings on the current seat distribution formula between the PMS and PAS.

On behalf of the PAS association, Mushtaq Jadoon said, “PAS is an all Pakistan service and the 18th Amendment has no implications on its status.” Khalid Khan Umerzai, Sajid Jadoon and Fahad Ikram Qazi who represented the PMS association then presented their views.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2015.