Postings, transfer part of service to enhance capacity: EC

ISLAMABAD: The postings and transfers of government servants are a prerequisite and a part of their services for the purpose of capacity building.

Article 218 (3) empowers the Election Commission to organize and conduct the election and to make such arrangements as are necessary to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly, fairly and in accordance with law, said a press release of EC Friday.

The posting transfer comprehensive plan was based on that it will safeguard interest by grooming and fielding a professionally competent cadre to manage EC affairs thereby to provide important national service in a fair and efficient manner to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Rule 9 of Election Commission of Pakistan (Officers and Servants) Rules 1989 clearly states: “A person holding any appointment under the Commissioner shall be liable to serve anywhere in Pakistan and in any post under the Commissioner.”

Recent posting transfer of officer cadre was part of one of the ECPs capacity building measures. The movement of officers was made to help them get exposure experience at different places, appointments and eventually groom them, make them able to deliver under varied situations and further ensure fairness and equal opportunity to all officers in career development. Serving of officers more than designated period makes them liable to allegation of partisanship.

Many officers in ECP were serving at same station from more than 10 years some were serving in hard areas where facilities to perform well were not appropriate as compared to those who were serving in standard and soft areas.

The government functionaries are usually transferred by rotation from one station to another station and even within the ministries they are transferred from one desk to another desk so as to enhance their learning skills and knowledge. Posting transfers of officers gave fair chance to officers who were serving in hard areas to serve in standard and soft areas.

The posting transfer policy of officers was formulated, issued and circulated to all officers in EC before posting transfers and all the postings transfer were made after consultation with provincial Election Commissioners and approval of Honourable CEC.

Not only postings transfer policy but also a promotion and as well as training policy was formulated for the officers, officials of the ECP. In this regards, the ECP will not consider pressure of anyone to reverse or stop the posting, transfers and have high hope that newly posted transferred proficient officers will deliver their best to make 2018 polls successfully fair and transparent.