Promotion of 17 Sindh water management officers cancelled

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon Tuesday cancelled the promotions of 17 water management officers, who were earlier promoted on his orders on Monday under old service promotion rules of 1993, which were amended in 2007.

On Monday, Secretary Agriculture Sajid Jamal Abro following the orders of the chief secretary promoted Muhammad Ayaz Shiekh, Anwar Kamal Narejo, Najmuddin Khan and 14 other water management officers of grade 16 to grade 17. This reporter after getting all documentary evidence of the said matter, requested Rizwan Memon for his version, to which the chief secretary sought some time and finally on Tuesday after revisiting and then cancelling his previous order, told that the Sindh Agriculture Department has quoted the older promotions rules and after the pointation of this reporter; the said promotion matter was re-examined thoroughly and then after reaching conclusion, all promotions were withdrawn.

The matter of promotions was also challenged by other four water management officers whose seniority was affected by these promotions. According to Service promotion rules, the method of appointment and promotions of said posts of water management officers of grade16 and above in Agriculture Engineering and Water Management Wing of Sindh Agriculture Department was in accordance to rules framed on March 20, 1993. Subsequently, rules were amended for appointment and promotions through a notification on April 03, 2007, issued by the secretary Sindh Agriculture Department in consultation with Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) in accordance with Rule 2 of Sub-Rule 3 of Sindh Civil Servants Appointment, Promotion & Transfer (APT) Rules, 1974. These rules replaced previous rules of March 20, 1993.