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Sindh (Rural) deprived of its share G.N. Mughul KARACHI: Sindh, except its urban elite class, has been isolated from the highest decision making corridors of the Federal Government in the present set up as Sindh (Rural) is the only area which stands deprived in the Federal Government services vis a vis other provinces and the areas. A start in giving this treatment to the officials in Federal Government, holding domicile of Sindh rural, was made during Gen. Pervez Musharraf's rule. But, it is interesting to note that not only same policies with regard to the posting of the officers holding domicile of Sindh (rural) in different grades of different services of the Federal Government have been followed even during the present democratic rule but now the ratio of the posting of the officers belonging to Sindh (rural) has been further decreased vis a vis the quota in the services for different provinces/areas fixed under the constitution. This has been revealed on conducting survey to this effect. It may be mentioned that under 1973 constitution the quota in the services fixed for various provinces/areas, is: Punjab - 50 percent, Sindh (Rural) 11.7 percent, Sindh (Urban) 7.2 percent, NWFP - 11 percent and Balochistan - 2 percent. As the result of last conducted census the population of Punjab was reduced by 1 percent while that of Sindh (Rural) was increased by 1 percent. Under the constitution, in the light of the results of new census, the ratio of Punjab in the services should have been reduced by 1 percent while that of Sindh (rural) should have been increased by 1 percent. But, this was not done and it is seen as clear violation of the constitution. However, Musharraf regime did certainly take one positive measure by increasing the quota of Balochistan in the services from 2 percent to 6 percent in view of the discontent found among the people of Balochistan due to negative policies followed by the Central Government in Balochistan continuously. Anyhow, it is regrettable to note as to how far this decision was adhered to by the Federal Government. In contrast to the quota prescriptions under the constitution, the actual job position made available to the officers BPS-21 & 22 of the Federal Government (number-wise as well as percentage-wise), belonging to various provinces/areas is not less interesting and less appalling (particularly for Sindh rural). The details to this effect are given below: At present out of total number of officers posted as Federal Secretary/Additional Secretary incharge in BPS- 21/22, being 53, the officers having domicile of Punjab posted on these positions in the Federal Secretariat is 36 i.e. 67.9 percent as against its quota under the constitution being 50 percent. The number of the officers holding the domicile of NWFP & posted on these posts, is 6 i.e. 11.3 percent whereas its quota under the constitution is 11 percent. The number of the officers holding the domicile of Sindh (Urban) & posted on these positions is 9.4 percent while its quota under the constitution is 7.2 percent. The number of the officers holding the domicile of Balochstan and posted on these positions is 2 i.e. 3.7 percent as against its revised share being 6 percent. The number of the officers holding the domicile of Sindh rural and posted on these positions is 4 i.e. 7.5 percent as against its quota share under the constitution being 11.7 percent. On making further investigations, some more interesting features of this typical phenomenon have come to fore. For example, out of 4 officers having domicile of Sindh rural, posted on the posts of grade 21 and 22 only one i.e. K.B. Rind, a BPS-22 Officer, who during Musharraf rule functioned as Chief Secretary of Balochistan, has these days been posted as the Federal Secretary for Narcotics. The details of the rest three officers in grade 21, are: Abdul Ghaffar Soomro, Federal Secretary for Minorities, Kazi Imtiaz, Federal Secretary for Welfare & Special education and Anwer Mousvi, also a federal secretary of a less important ministry. Moreover, out of total 23 officers currently posted as Additional Secretary in the Federal Secretariat, Islamabad, not a single one of them belongs to Sindh rural. Besides, there is an army of Ambassadors of Pakistan posted in foreign countries all over the world out of them only two carrier diplomats belong to Sindh rural and they are: Farooq Affendi, Ambassador in Sudan, and Khalid Yousfani, Ambassador in Ethopia. As for the Divisions allocated to the officers of grade 21 and 22 belonging to Sindh rural, are considered as "sidelined ministries" as none of these officers is posted in a Ministry which is important in decision making at high level. Particularly, it is significant to note that none of them is made incharge of an economic ministry. As a result, when the meeting of ECC of the Cabinet is held and decisions on economic issues of highest importance are taken at this forum no officer belonging to Sindh rural is found sitting there. As such, all these decisions are taken over and above them. It is also worth mentioning that since Musharraf regime to date a number of officers in grades 22 to 20, after being retired are re-appointed on being granted extension in the service and they are functioning on various vital posts. By the way such officers mostly belong to Punjab and Sindh urban. As against that recently a number of officers in grade 22 belonging to Sindh rural were retired but none of them was granted extension. Some of them are: Sharif Baloch, Rasul Bux Baloch, Salim Gul, Shahzado Shaikh and Aslam Sanjrani. Similarly various officers belonging to Sindh rural also retired as Additional Secretary recently but they also were not granted extension. The rights of particularly Sindh rural have been hit very hard due to frequent stoppage of direct induction of Section Officers as dictated by DMG group. The direct induction of section officers was started under the relevant ruled by first PPP Government headed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This practice was stopped during Zia rule. This was again resumed by first Benazir Bhutto Government but again stopped by first Nawaz Sharif Government. It was again resumed by second Benazir Bhutto Government but again stopped by second Nawaz Sharif Government. Now, only a few days back it has again been decided to revive the direct induction of section officers in the Federal Secretariat. The Frontier Post:June 04,2009
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