SUKKUR: Ad hocism aimed at retaining retired officers, including chairman, and averting due process of appointments reigns supreme in the

Sukkur Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) with the result that five retired officials are still holding key positions in violation of relevant rules.

Interestingly, the board’s secretary, Abbas Baloch, commenting on the situation, expressed his unawareness about so many officials having been granted post-retirement jobs and key positions.

Speaking to Dawn on Tuesday, Mr Baloch said he knew about only one such case. He said an inquiry would definitely be instituted to see how retired officials were given key posts and some even multiple such posts. He said whoever was reappointed in violation of the prescribed rules would be removed very soon.

The matter came to light when a recent media report claimed that, Rafiq Ahmed Palh, who had retired as secretary / inspector of colleges (BPS-19) was reappointed as the board’s chairman. Sources privy to the board also alleged that he had called a meeting of the appointment committee on Feb 7, 2023 during which he promoted himself to BSP-20. The due process of seeking prior approval from the Universities and Boards department for the reappointment of five more retired officers was not followed, it was further alleged.

The retired officers now reappointed included: Ghulam Qadir Dharejo and Ghulam Qadir Channa, who are holding the posts of consultant to the Sukkur BISE chairman, and constant secret branch, respectively.

A senior administration official, Najam Akhtar Memon, has been rehired as consultant administration whereas former board secretary Salman Khan has been reappointed as consultant budget and accounts.

Another officer, Abdul Fatah Mahar, who has retired only on October 10 this year as ‘secrecy officer’ (BS-18), has been asked to continue to hold his position on a “daily wage basis”. Surprisingly, this daily wage officer has been given the additional charges of ‘deputy controller secret (BPS-18)’ and ‘controller of examination (BPS-19)’.

The board’s rules do not allow any additional charge to be held by an officer grated a post-retirement job.

All the re-hired officers have been allowed to draw their salaries in addition to pension.

Sukkur BISE Secretary Abbas Baloch has promised that an inquiry into the whole affair would be conducted. A notification to this effect is, however, yet to be issued.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2024