ISLAMABAD: Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) are once again at loggerheads over the transfer and posting of officers made by the civic agency as the mayor has refused to implement the posting orders in the directorates under his control.

The CDA had recently transferred several officers working under the administrative control of MCI. However, MCI refused to implement the new postings, saying that CDA had taken the decision without taking the corporation’s management on board.

The CDA officials said the authority had every right to transfer and post its employees in CDA/MCI directorates in the best interest of the city as those employees working in MCI are temporarily placed there and their human resources affairs are solely being dealt by CDA.

Mayor refuses to enforce CDA posting orders

The CDA has transferred director water supply, a deputy director water supply and assistant director water supply to various directorate of CDA. However, MCI has decided not to accept new posting and sources said that mayor did not allow the new director water, transferred by CDA, to join new assignments.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz, in a letter dated June 21 addressed to the CDA chairman, stated: “It was understood and decided that CDA would make no posting, transfer or give additional charge in the MCI formations without prior approval of the chief metropolitan officer or the mayor.

However, it has been observed with great concern that recently the human resources department, CDA, issued posting/transfer orders of directors, deputy director, assistant director water supply and assistant director City Sewerage Division without any consent/approval of the mayor in violation of the law.

MCI is responsible for providing potable water to the capital residents and cannot afford these posting/transfer in summer season, which will definitely disturb the smooth supply of water to residents of Islamabad,” read the letter of mayor.

It further said that the transfer and posting orders should be withdrawn otherwise the MCI will not implement it and consider the directive null and void.

The letter said: “This is for your record and future guideline that any posting and transfers made by the CDA in MCI would be a violation of the provision of ICT Local Government Act 2015. Therefore, no further posting/transfers shall be made without the explicit approval of MCI,” read the letter.

When contacted, CDA spokesperson Syed Safdar Ali said: “The civic authority under prevalent rules and regulations can post its employees. It is clarified that CDA staff at MCI are neither on deputation nor absorbed as yet. Therefore, one officer can be posted from one department to the other, keeping in view the city’s interest.”

Mr Ali further added that no reshuffle had been carried out in the MCI and only a director had been posted out from the corporation to the CDA and a replacement has been provided in his place. As a goodwill gesture, the CDA management had decided to consider any request from the MCI on merit and in accordance with rules.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2019