The Ladder and Master Climbers

By Aftab Channa –

The story of miracles happening at the Sindh Assembly Secretariat!

Although, the people have always heard about miracles in their lives, however with the particular case of the Sindh Assembly Secretariat, it has been the place where miracles happen with regard to jobs, promotions and postings of officials in violation of the rules everyday.

According to official documents, exclusively available with the Pique, the job career of present Secretary Sindh Assembly Ghulam Muhammad Umar Farooque son of former secretary of the assembly Hadi Bux Buriro and his family members are what the insiders claim ‘miracles-after-miracles’.

The ex-secretary Sindh Assembly Hadi Bux Buriro remained on the top post for the couple of years and had good relations with the ruling party as well as opposition members of the legislative house. And, during his job Hadi Bux had got inducted his sons and nephew on different positions with the consent of former speakers.

The sons of Hadi Bux Buriro who were inducted in the Sindh Assembly’s positions included Ghulam Muhammad Umar Farooque, Rashid Hussain Buriro, Muzamil ur Rehman and Mumtaz Ali Buriro (nephew of former secretary).

Interestingly, this was the first case in the history of Pakistan that a father handed over the government topmost official charge to his own son.

In 2014, the then secretary provincial assembly Hadi Bux Buriro handed over the charge upon his retirement to his beloved son Ghulam Muhammad Umar Farooque.

The officials of the Sindh Assembly Secretariat raised hue and cry against posting of junior official on the senior most position however no action was taken and the voices of depressed officials were pressed, sources added. Here we have a look on the high-speed promotions in Sindh Assembly Secretariat.

Ghulam Muhammad Umar Farooque, Secretary (BPS-21)

He was appointed as Assistant Research Officer (BPS-16) on January 16, 2006. Again, he was re-appointed as Assistant Secretary (BPS-17) after a gap of four months on May 24, 2006.

Then he was promoted directly as Additional Secretary (BPS-19) on June 27, 2009 and the post was upgraded from (BPS-19) to (B-20) and nomenclature was changed as special secretary (BPS-20) on March 13, 2013. After all, he was promoted as secretary (BPS-21) on December 5, 2013.

It is very interesting that the post of secretary was upgraded from BPS 20 to BPS 21 in pursuant to the decision taken by the Finance Committee of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh in its meeting held on April 8, 2006 w.e.f 6.7.2006 till the post was held by Hadi Bux Buriro, Ex Secretary (Father of Mr G M Umar Farooque) and such notification was issued vide No PAS/PF-32/98/2309 dated 20^th July 2006.

Interestingly, another son Rashid Hussain Buriro was appointed as Controller (BPS-16) on June 6, 2006 and again he was appointed as Assistant Protocol Officer (BPS-16) in November 2006. The luckiest official was then promoted as Protocol Officer (BPS-17) on May 17, 2007. And in the same manner, the post was upgraded in (BPS-18) on December 2, 2010.

Yet another son of former secretary, namely Muzamil ur Rehman was appointed as Assistant Estate Officer (BPS-17) in 2012.

Furthermore, the nephew of former secretary – Mumtaz Ali Buriro – was appointed as Junior Scale Stenographer (BPS-12) on June 22, 2006. Again he was appointed as Assistant (BPS-14) on Dec 4, 2007 and re-appointed as Data Processing Officer (BPS-16) on April 13, 2010. Then the post was upgraded in (BPS-17) on Dec 2, 2010.

Makhdoom Shafi Muhammad, Special Secretary (BPS-20)

He was appointed as Junior Translator (BPS-11) in 1988 and he was posted as Reporter (BPS-17) in December 2002 on OPS basis. The post regularized in February 2006 with retrospective effect December 2002 and he was placed in BPS-18 till further orders vice Aftab Ahmed Mahar who was on deputation in Sindh Secretariat. He was promoted as Additional Secretary BPS-19 in September 2009 (from ex cadre to cadre post) and without confirmation in BPS-18. After that the post of Additional Secretary BPS-19 upgraded in BPS-20 in March 2013 and he was promoted as Special Secretary BPS-20 in April 2014.

Haji Mian Muhammad Hassan Shah, Additional Secretary (BPS-20)

He was appointed as Assistant Secretary without advertisement on 11.8.2006 and the same post was upgraded from BPS-17 to BPS-18 on 2.12.2010. Then he was promoted as Deputy Secretary BPS-18 on November 2012 without his turn. The post was upgraded from BPS-18 to BPS-19 on 8.3.2013. The nomenclature of his post of Deputy Secretary BPS-19 changed as Additional Secretary BPS 19 on 1.4.2013 and he was placed in BPS-20 as Additional Secretary in April 2014.

Mrs Siraj Fatima, Deputy Secretary (BPS-19)

She was appointed as English Reporter BPS-17 in 1998 and was reappointed as Assistant Secretary BPS-17 on 24.5.2006 from ex-cadre to cadre post. Only after two days she was promoted as Deputy Secretary BPS-18 on 26.5.2006 and the post upgraded in BPS-19 on 13.3.2013.

Muhammad Qasim Mangrio, Deputy Secretary (BPS-18)

He was appointed as PS to Speaker BPS-17 on 11.1.2003 and absorbed as OSD BPS-17 on 3.12.2003. And, he was placed against the post of Assistant Secretary BPS-17 on 6.8.2005 from ex cadre to cadre post in violation of rules. His service was regularized as Assistant Secretary on 24.5.2006 and the post was upgraded in BPS-18 on 2.12.2010. His post was re-designated as Deputy Secretary BPS-18 on 13.3.2013.

Amolak Das, Assistant Secretary (BPS-18)

He was a Senior Scale Stenographer BPS-5 of the Service General Administration & Coordination Department (SGA&CD) and joined Sindh Assembly on deputation basis in year 2008. He was then absorbed/appointed as Assistant Secretary BPS-17 in March 2010 and the post of Assistant Secretary was upgraded in BPS-18 on 2.12.2010. He was brought from ex cadre to cadre post.

Abdul Ghaffar Wagan, Assistant Secretary (BPS-18)

He was appointed as Junior Translator BPS-11 in October 2010 and again appointed as Assistant Secretary BPS-18 on March 1, 2013 from ex cadre to cadre post.

Muhammad Habib, Assistant Secretary (BPS-18)

He was appointed as Chowkidar in 1982 and again appointed as Junior Clerk BPS-5 in 1989. He was then again appointed as Assistant BPS-11 in 1999. He was reappointed as Superintendent BPS-16 in February 2009 and the post of Superintendent holding by Muhammad Habib was upgraded in B-17 on 13.3.2013. He was promoted as Assistant Secretary BPS-18 on April 1, 2013.

Usman Ali Chachar, Deputy Secretary (BPS-18)

He was temporary appointed as Assistant Computer Manager B-16 on 16.3.1999 and the post was re-designated as Assistant Director IT BPS-16 on 5.10.2002. He was promoted as Assistant Director IT BPS-17 on 9.4.2007 and post was upgraded in BPS-18 from 2.12.2010. The post was re-designated as Deputy Secretary BPS-18 on 28.3.2013 from ex cadre to cadre post

Syed Muhammad Abbas, Director Finance (BPS-19)

He was appointed as Junior Clerk B-5 in the year 1982 and again appointed as Budget Officer BPS-16 on 2.12.1995. The post of Budget Officer re-designated as Assistant Secretary BPS-16 on OPS basis from 4.10.2002 which is not provided in Rules that too from ex cadre to cadre post. The post was upgraded in BPS-17 on 17.6.2006. He was again appointed/promoted as Accounts Officer BPS-18 on 19.3.2010 and the post re-designated/up graded as Director Finance BPS-19 on 13.3.2013

Ms Raheela Sandelo, Assistant Secretary (BPS-18)

She was appointed as Librarian BPS-17 in February 2009 and her post re-designated as Assistant Secretary BPS-17 in the year 2010 from ex cadre to cadre post. The post was upgraded in BPS-18 on 13.3.2013. Presently, she is on deputation in Islamabad.

Ms Muneeza Mashkoor, Deputy Secretary Librarian (BPS-18)

She was appointed as Junior Translator BPS-11 on 4.10.1997 and worked as Librarian B-17 on OPS basis from 2003 to 2006. Again she was appointed as Librarian B-17 on 5.6.2006 and the post was upgraded in BPS-18 on 2.12.2010. The nomenclature of the post of Librarian holding by Ms Muneeza was changed as Deputy Secretary (Librarian) BPS-18 on 13.3.2013 and that too from ex cadre to cadre post.

Allah Bachayo Bhand, Sargent at Arms (BPS-18)

He was appointed as Junior Clerk BPS-5 in 1990 and re-appointed as Sub-Editor of Debates BPS-15 on 26.5.2007. Later, she was appointed as Superintendent BPS-16 in February 2009 from ex cadre to cadre post and temporary appointed/posted as PS to Speaker BPS-17 in 2009/2010. He was then appointed as Sargent at Arms BPS-18 in 2012.

Habibullah Rind, Assistant Secretary (BPS-18)

He was appointed as Data Processing Officer BPS-16 in 2006 and again appointed as Assistant Secretary B-17 in October 2009 from ex cadre to cadre post. On deputation in SGA&CD and repatriated on the orders of the honorable Supreme Court, his post was filled as such new post of Assistant Secretary B-18 was created in March 2013 specifically for Habibullah Rind and posted against such post in violation of rules.

Zulfikar Ali Rind, Assistant Secretary (BPS-17)

He was appointed as Data Processing Officer BPS-16 on 18.12.2010 and then temporary appointed as Assistant Secretary B-17 in the year 2010. He went on deputation in SGA&CD and subsequently repatriated in May 2012. The new post of Data Processing Officer BPS-17 was created in March, 2013 to adjust Zulfikar Ali Rind and thereafter the nomenclature of the said post was changed as Assistant Secretary BPS-17.

Abdul Sattar Mahar, Superintendent (BPS-16)

He was appointed as Junior Clerk BPS-5 in 1995 and re-appointed as Junior Translator BPS-11 in 2009. He was once again appointed as Assistant BPS-14 in 2010 and promoted as Superintendent BPS-16 in April 2013.

Lutuf Ali Shah, Superintendent (BPS-16)

He was appointed as Junior Clerk B-5 in 1998 and re-appointed as Senior Scale Stenographer B 15 in 2005. He was again appointed as PS to Secretary BPS-16 in 2007 and again re-appointed as Superintendent B-16 in January 2012 non cadre to cadre post.

Muhammad Haroon, OSD (BPS-17)

He was appointed as Junior Clerk B-5 in 1989 and re-appointed as Chamber Assistant BPS-11 in 1999. Again, he was appointed as Reporter BPS-16 on 12.12.2008 and did not work or attend his duty as reporter. The nomenclature of the post of reporter was changed as OSD and post upgraded from BPS-16 to BPS-17 in March 2013.

Musheer  ul Hassan (Rashid), Director IPR (BPS-18)

He was appointed as Junior Clerk BPS-5 on 21.9.1992 and re-appointed as Junior Scale Stenographer BPS-12 in 1997. He was appointed as PS to Secretary BPS-16 in 1999 and made PSO to Secretary BPS-17 on 1.6.2006. The post was upgraded in BPS-18 on 2.12.2010 while the nomenclature of the post was changed as Director IPR BPS-18.

The sources told Pique that apart from the out of turn promotions, up-gradations and initial appointments of above named officials/officers, number of other persons have been appointed/promoted against various posts or the nomenclature of the posts has been changed in violation of the rules. Further, employees of non cadre post have been transferred against cadre posts and promotions have been granted on out of turn basis depriving the genuine and eligible persons.

The writer is a senior investigative reporter based in Karachi