ECP seeks details of political appointees in Sindh

The details of employees appointed on political grounds in Sindh have been urgently requested by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

On behalf of the Department of Services General Administration and Coordination, all departments, commissioners, deputy commissioners and heads of universities have been told that a letter has been received from the Election Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad, on the issue of political recruitment.

Requiring details of political appointments, the letter said political appointments are defined as “political appointees are those persons who have not been appointed through due process” under relevant applicable rules/regulations, i.e. advertisement of posts in print media, examining relevant education and experience documents, a written examination, an interview and physical fitness.

Moreover, the letter said, they have been appointed against positions which do not belong to any regular service group. “It is advised to furnish the requisite details to this office at the earliest, for taking further necessary action.”

The interesting thing is that the former government in Sindh continues. The directors and DEOs in the largest education department of Sindh have not been changed yet, and even private secretary Haleem Soomro, who was appointed on deputation, has not been removed. Soomro is said to be handling all the old cases

Soomro is mainly related to the Department of Population Welfare where he was posted as acting director planning in Grade 17; however, contrary to the court orders, on 24 August 2021, former chief secretary Mumtaz Ali Shah sent him to the Department of Education through a notification. He became private secretary to former education minister Sardar Ali Shah and has not been transferred to his original department despite the change of government.