In a first, an interim PM to preside over BS-21 promotions

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the history of Pakistan, caretaker prime minister will decide promotions of federal bureaucrats from grades 21 to 22.

Highly reliable sources told Jang that earlier caretaker governments came for only three months and during this period neither did caretaker government convene high-powered selection board meeting to promote bureaucrats from grades 21 to 22 nor was there any specific law about the powers of the caretaker government.

Sources said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has the power to decide for or against the caretaker prime minister’s discretionary powers to promote bureaucrats from grades 21 to 22.

Sources said that there is no law about these discretionary powers of the caretaker prime minister, so the board is not justified until the formation of the elected government.

The sources said that grade 22 is the last grade in the civil service, so the authority of promotion to this grade should rest with the elected prime minister, which has been the practice till date.

Former ECP Secretary Kanwar Dilshad said that the promotion of officers from grades 21 to 22 in the high powered board chaired by the prime minister next month will be subject to the permission of the Election Commission of Pakistan. He said that the authority of the caretaker government to decide on promotions can only be possible under Section 230 of the Election Act. Promotions granted by exercising discretionary powers without the permission of the Election Commission will be unconstitutional and illegal.

The federal government has decided to convene a meeting of the high powered selection board next month for the promotion of bureaucrats to grade 22, which will be chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq. The secretary Cabinet Division, secretary Establishment Division and Prime Minister’s secretary will participate in the meeting. In this regard, the Establishment Division has started compiling the lists.