PESHAWAR – In what appeared to be a confrontation between bureaucracy and government, provincial bureaucrats have announced that they will not accept the reforms which would be proposed in the civil service by a task force set up by Prime Minister Imran Khan until their demands are met.
An association of Provincial Civil Service (PCS) of KP made the announcement after its representatives held a meeting with former State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) governor Dr Ishrat Hussain, who heads the reforms body, at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar on Tuesday.
Terming the meeting “eyewash,” the association said that they will refuse the reforms which the task force may propose to the civil service in Pakistan, an English daily reported.
They provincial bureaucrats were concerned about no representation in the reforms body as only officers from Pakistan Administrative services were picked for it.
This matter was taken up in the meeting with Hussain but he ignored the grievances, the association said, adding that the issue can be resolved through consultation.
Issues pertaining to the illegal and unconstitutional apportionment formula of 1993 were highlighted in the meeting, they said, adding that the head of the task force was also informed about the administrative crisis, highlighting that around 200 seats for PAS officers lying vacant.
The association representatives also discussed problems related to promotions of the PCS officers pending since long.
They also questioned the legality of appointing PAS officers on provincial positions, especially after the 18th constitutional amendment.
The association said that Hussain did not take the matter serious, triggering heated debated between the participants.
The PCS officers did not step back from their demands regarding inclusion of PCS officers in the committee and ending the apportionment formula of 1993.
Later the association held a meeting and announced, “Since Dr Hussain is biased towards the PAS cadre and not ready to consider the view of the 4,000 PCS/PMS (Provincial Management Services) officers across Pakistan, this association declares today’s consultation as a sham and believes that these reforms will be superficial and will have nothing concrete.”
They declared that any measures proposed by the committee will not be accepted unless their demands are met and warned of agitation across Pakistan.
