GRIEVANCES OF DMG OFFICERS

MINUTES OF THE 7TH MEETING OF THE CENTRAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF PAKISTAN CSP & DMG OFFICERS' ASSOCIATION

11 a.m.

Committee Room, R-Block, Pak Secretariat Islamabad

1. The 7th meeting of the present Central Executive Committee of Pakistan CSP & DMG Officers' Association started with recitation from the Holy Quran. The meeting was chaired by Acting President Mr M. Javed Malik, Federal Secretary, Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, Govt of Pakistan, Islamabad.

2. The Acting President welcomed the participants and said that meeting is being held after relatively longer gap and many pressing issues need to be addressed including the recent events in Punjab. He proposed that meeting should be held more frequently.

3. Apologies received from Secretary General Mr Amjad Nazir, Mr Momin Agha and Ms Syeda Shafaq Ali were accepted.

Elections for the next CEC and the four PECs

4. The meeting noted that the executives in the Federal chapter and the four provincial chapters elected in May-June 2009 have completed their tenures and elections for Association offices are already due.

5. The meeting noted that the Punjab chapter successfully held the elections on 24 February 2011 and a new Provincial Executive is already functioning there. The CEC noted that in the true spirit of All Pakistan service, the Punjab based DMG officers have unanimously elected their executive in which not one of the four top office bearers belongs to Punjab. The meeting felicitated Mr Jehanzeb Khan, Punjab Chapter President and his team and wished them well for their efforts to represen all those All-Pakistan Service (DMG) Officers belonging to all four provinces, AJK and GB, who are presently serving in Punjab.

6. The meeting noted that Sind and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapters are in the process of preparation of their Annual General-body Meetings (AGM's) where new executives shall be chosen. The Acting President directed the Treausrer to keep liaison with Sind and KPk chapters of the Association and keep the CEC posted on the arrangement and outcome of the elections. It was also directed that Balochistan chapter may also be advised to prepare for the AGM and elections without delay.

7. The Acting President noted that the previous President Mr Shahid Rafi had initiated a very positive practice of a coordination meeting-cum-dinner of all four provincial presidents with the Federal CEC. In fact, all four provinical chapter Presidents are ex-officio Vice Presidents of the Central Chapter also, representing their provinces of posting. However, before 2009, there was no practice of provincial presidents attending the CEC meetings. The Acting President said that as soon as the four provincial chapters elections are complete, he will host a dinner meeting of all new Presidents of the provincial chapters.

8. The meeting noted that since the 18th President of the Association, Mr Shahid Rafi, has retired, the office of Central President is being looked after by the SVP Mr Javed Malik, as the Acting President. It was resolved that the AGM of the Federal Chapter must be held as soon as the four provincial chapters reorganization is complete. Tentatively, the Federal chapter elections have been scheduled for June 2011. Till then the Acting President will continue to head the Association, as per the Rules and also the past conventions, like in case of Mr Shakeel Durrani and Mr Rauf Chaudhry who were elected SVP's but had to remain Acting Presidents till next AGM could be held.

Annual Dinner and Service Name Restoration

9. The meeting was given a detailed briefing on why the annual dinner was postponed repeatedly during 2010 and ultimately could not be held till date. It was mentioned that there was no slackness on part of the CEC but the proposed Chief Guest had to regret his availability time and again due to security situation in the country, then floods and then due to his political engagements. And as per time-honored tradition, the CSP Officers Association dinner is usually graced by the Head of State or Government, so we kept rescheduling it.

10. The meeting also noted that since DMG is trying to get service name restoration as not only half the federal services have managed that including the PSP, FSP, PAAS, IRS and Customes services (formerly FOG, PG, AAG, ITG and CEG, respectively), but also Provincial Managment Services have got a proper Service name. It was pointed out that the CEC had been endeavoring for announcement of service name restoration at the annual dinner and since no decision on giving back our service name was taken y the Government, so dinner was delayed further in anticipation.

11. The meeting noted that it would not augur well if there is no annual dinner during the present tenure as it goes against the tradition. The meeting authorized the Acting President to contact the Prime Minister's office to ascertain the feasibility of organizing a dinner in the coming weeks, before the next CEC steps in.

12. The meeting also stressed that we should continue our efforts for service name restoration even till our last day in office. The meeting welcomed the posting of Mr Khushnood Lashari as Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, and Mr Abdul Rauf Chaudhry as Secreary Establishment, and hoped that during the tenure of such brilliant, cooperative and well respected officers, the issue of annual dinner and service name restoration will be helped out expeditiously.

Recomposition of the CEC

13. The Acting President expressed his serious concern over the low attendance level at some CEC meetings. It was apprised that six members of the CEC elected in 2009 have ceased to be active members, one (then-President Shahid Rafi) has retired, one officer was implicated in a high profile misconduct case (and as per rules, ceased to be CEC member unless his name was cleared), two officers (Mr Yousaf Naseem Khokhar and Mr Bilal Hyder) have been transferred from Islambad, and the then Chief Commissioner, Islamabad, and Chairman, CDA who are coopted members with every CEC, have long been replaced.

14. The meeting also noted that two members of the CEC remain absent without intimation thereby showing lack of interest in Association affairs.

15. The meeting decided to declare the two seats (mentioned in para 14 ante) as vacant as any CEC or PEC member ceases to remain members if he/she skips three consecutive meetings without intimation to/permission of, the President of the chapter concerned. The meeting also decided that the present Chairman CDA and the incumbent Chief Commissioner Islamabad may be requested to attend CEC meetings as coopted members in place of their predecessors-in-office.

16. The Acting President further said that even though the term of office is drawing to a close, but we should induct members in place of the four vacancies created (as mentioned in para 13 ante) in view of the workload on CEC related to proposed dinner, service name and the Punjab PCS issue. The meeting accordingly decided to request Mr Haroon ur Rasheed, Mr Agha Nadeem, Mr Babar Yaqub Fateh Mohammad, and Mrs Shaista Suhail to accept cooption in the CEC pending the coming elections. If these officers express willingness they will be welcome addition to the Association executive.

PCS Officers agitation in Punjab, arrest of 155 PCS officers, suspension and OSD ship of many of them

17. The CEC held threadbare discussion on the service situation in Punjab and took note of illegal means being employed for myopic self interests of certain persons. The meeting took note of the abusive language used by certain office bearers of a provincial service against the Chief Secretary,IG Police, ACS, and All Pakistan Services officers, that are now uploaded on Youtube and resolved to adopt a course of action within the ambit of the law and in accordance with the decorum and decency expected to All-Pakistan Officers (DMG).

18. The Acting President as well as various members of the CEC informed the meeting about their feedback and opinon about the situation in Punjab from their sources/contacts in Punjab. The meeting noted that 90% of the demands of the PCS officers have been met, ranging from issue of promotions to closing down of DMG provincial chapter office in PCOM Mess, Lahore.

19. The meeting wondered whether the demands by certain elements making such unreasonable and anti Federal demands as the total abolition of All Pakistan Services had to do with advancement of individual career interests of certain provincial services. The meeting took note of the reports that some elements within the agitation have a political backing aimed at embarrassing the Govt of Punjab by creating scenes in Punjab sectt through strikes etc. Thus some officials arrested might not have known that they had been used for political gains by those corners that do not have any sympathy for their service issue or for any benefit of PCS officers in mind. Unkowingly, grievances of PCS officers , actual or perceived, might have been exploited for political objectives in the ongoing wheeling and dealing in provincial politics.

20. The meeting noted that the Pakistan's constitution, flag, armed forces and various inter provincial agreements (such as creation of All Pakistan Services i.e. CSP/ DMG) are our national identity. How can Punjab, or any province alone, for that matter, change any of these features of our national existence unilaterally. Thus, the pressure on Punjab Govt by the PCS is misplaced as the things they now want are not in the purview of any single provincial government.

21. The meeting noted that provincial and state services are an essential part of bureacracies all over the world in democratic nations. But calling for having no All-country Service, militates against the very idea of Federal state. PCS is there in all four provinces and what if the Balochistan PCS starts making similar demands of not needing any All Pakistan Service. Can nation afford such dent on integrity of the federation that the DMG as an All Pakistan Service provides as a binding force to our country, at the present critical juncture of our national history? Can All-Pakistan Services be marginalized only because some officers' individual careers would grow through the vacuum created? The CEC hoped that the PCS officers would be rational and realistic in their demands and will not take law into their own hands in future.

22. The CEC noted that Provincial Civil Servces are as much an essential part of the national governance structures but All Pakistan Services (DMG & PSP) have their own defined role. The cadre and composition rules were never made unilaterally by the Federation, but both in 1954 and 1993, they were formalized after extensive consultations and only after a consensus of all four federating units and the federation itself emerged. It is the voluntary decision of the provinces to give certain share of the posts to All Pakistan Services (CSP-- now DMG) and as such, All Pakistan Service (which is common to Federation and Province) must not be confused with Federal services which belong to federation alone.

23. The CEC further noted that all DMG officers are selected on merit by coming in the top merit from all four provinces from 12,000 or so candidates annually, while the present PMS is not just the ex- PCS(Executive) but also all officers of the erstwhile PCS (Secretariat) have been merged into PMS. Thus double strength from two former services is asking for quota with DMG which has an apportionment formula with former PCS(Exec) only. It is also strange that hundreds of these PMS officers(being from secretariat cadre and thus having no field experience) actually want share in field postings like Commissioner/DCO etc with no background or training in it. So self serving formulas being proposed can hardly be deemed as justfied. The meeting also noted that not all officers of PMS were selected through any province level competitive exam (unlike DMG's all of whom top national-level competitive exams in their respective provine-wise merit lists) as

more than 600 of the PMS are promotees from lower ranks like tehsildars, stenographers etc.

24. The meeting took note of the reports of certain bar associations and an association of tehsildars, supporting the agitation, only in order to oppose merit based DMG officers, who have the courage to decide matters impartially rather than tilting to any vested interests.

25. The meeting also noted that in the past bloc inductionsof PCS(Exe) into the PCS(Jud) have taken place and a large number of provincial officers are in judicary,not only enjoying post upgradation (civil judges from BS-17 to BS-18 and so on up the ladder) but also got rapid promotions and special pay packages applicable to all judiciary. On the other hand, DMG officers did not get either upgradation or pay enhancement over and above other services over the past four decades. While PCS got lion's share in judiciary, on top of it, the constitutionally sanctioned seats in higher judiciary are being denied to the DMG for last many decades due to changes made in seniority rules by previous martial law regimes. The PCS officers present a one sided view of their grievances against the DMG which does not reflect the true picture of how servicecadres were relatively affected by barious adminisrative changes and reforms.

26. The meeting noted that in the past, the PCS officers had right to encadrement and between15-30 percent quota had remained in erstwhile CSP for them in various times. In Pakistan some distinguished CSP's like Ghulamd Ishaq Khan entered the CSP through Provincial service quotas. This practice of rise of Provincial officers into National services after 15 years of service is still in practice in neighbouring countries. Even in Pakistan, provincial police officers get encadrement into PSP. The DMG did not end any quota for PCS but it was decision of previous elected governments and it will not be in national interest if such decisions create inter service rivalries.

27. The CEC noted that DMG officers respect the services rendered by all other service cadres (both federal and provincial) and do not want any rivalry. The DMG officers acknowledge conributions from a lot of outstanding officers from the provincial bureaucracies. The DMG officers' fraternity represents the unity of this federation and are not alien to any of the four provinces. Far from that, the DMG officers belong to the same very provinces recruited through a tougher competition ( than the provincial exams) and are willing to serve all over Pakistan rather than in their province of domicile alone. Hence they want all services to work in their assigned constitutional ambit. The DMG officers are willing to listen to any genuine grievances from any quarter.

28. The Treasurer drew the attention of the House towards a news item in Daily THe News (March 26), i.e. the same morning, whereby PCS Welfare Association has complained that they are not being listened to. He suggested that we should invite PCS office bearers for negotiations over their grievances. The CEC rejected the proposal on the ground that the newly elected Punjab Chapter is already looking into the matter and we should restrict ourselves to supporting our Punjab chapter rather than starting parallel initiatives which would rather complicate the matters. The CEC decided that the good offices of the Central Chapter remain available to our Punjab chapter, as well as, to the Govt and Chef Secreary of Punjab. In case, they feel our help is needed, we would be willing to do so in all manners possible.

29. At the moment, the CEC commends the efforts of our officers posted in Punjab, in dealing with the crisis and supports their endeavors.

30. The CEC also took note of the media campaign against All Pakistan services due to lack of information. The Treasurer apprised the CEC of the steps being taken to present a true picture in the media.

Launch of CSP Website

31. The CEC congratulated the launch of the new version of the CSP/ DMG website but also took note of the financial problems, the webiste is facing. It was noted that there are certain technical problems and many of the links are not showing the data or are not updated. Meeting decided that necessary financial resouces be made available so that technical faults may be removed from website www.civilservice.org.pk so it becomes a befitting website for our service.

CSP Souvenir Coffee Table Book

32. The meeting was briefed about the donations status for the CSP/DMG Coffee table souvenir book as the previous sponsors had backed out from their support. The meeting thanked the DMG officers for contributing generously for the fund and decided that the shortfall may be met so the book is published as soon as possible.

PCS Case in the Supreme Court

33. The meeting noted that the PCS case in the Supreme Court needs resources for it to be contested properly. It was noted that nine officers have donated amount for the PCS case and the amount is in custody of Mr Shan ul Haq, Section Officer, Estab Div who was the focal person for this purpose, as decided by the DMG mailserve. The Treasurer informed that the said officer is doing MCMC course, so could not be contacted on office number while he remained inaccessible through his mobile (continuosly switched off) too, hence the exact present status of amount of donations could not be ascertained. The meeting discussed the cost of lawyers etc and decided to work on it before the next meeting to adopt a coherent and effective stategy to counter the legal challenge to 1954 Cadre and Composition Rules.

Book launch by Miss Kiran Khursheed

34. The meeting was apprised that Ms Kiran Khursheed a young officer has compiled a book on CSP/DMG history, priced at Rs 3000/-, and after a successful book launch in Lahore early this month, she has planned a book launch ceremony for Islamabad as well. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, 31st March 2011, at 4 pm in Islamabad Club. The Acting President of the Association has already consented to preside over the function while former Interior Minister, Roedad Khan, CSP, had kindly consented to be the Guest of Honor, subject to his health condition that day. The CEC complimented Miss Kiran on the work and decided to encourage all officers posted in Islamabad and Peshwar and other near places to attend the book launch ceremony at the date, time and venue mentioned above.

THANKS

35. After lengthy discussion on such a long agenda, the meeting ended with thanks to and from the chair.

PCS-DMG standoff

The protest of a group of Officers belonging to Provincial Civil Service in Lahore Civil Secretariat and subsequent strike call on March 21 is a stark reminder of falling standards of the apex institution of Civil Service in Pakistan. It’s rather a shocking trend in the history of Civil Services in Sub-Continent that the very institution supposed to uphold the rule of law and public service is taking law in its hands to press for its demands, which prima-facie appears ultra-vires, and beyond the spirit of the 1973 constitution.

In the heydays of British colonial rule in India, there was a tradition of tendering resignation by the Civil Servant having some policy dissent with the government. Noted Islamic scholar and translator of Holy Quran, Allama Abdullah Yousaf Ali (1934) was an ICS Officer who resigned as like Akhtar Hameed Khan. The East India Company established the coveted Indian Civil Service. Consummate neutrality, intellect and public welfare were its hallmarks. It was above petty politics and it worked within a predetermined ambit of law. ICS worked really hard. They went everywhere to serve the British Raj and earned respect and alcove with their exemplary performance. They also earned respect in many other fields.

ICS was replaced with CSP and IAS in Pakistan and India respectively. According to the 1973 constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, there are two types of Civil Services; one is federal while the other cadre is provincial. Both the services complement each other and are supposed to serve the people in their respective ambit of law. Three years record of the Punjab government shows that it has adopted very facilitating attitude towards the PCS demands. However, it’s surprising that Punjab PCS cadre is demanding a number of new favors including repatriation of the DMGs to the federal government. This demand is detrimental to the spirit of federation and constitution. If all the provinces throw out the federal services from their territories, then who will solve inter-provincial matters and Centre-provinces relations.

According to a factsheet issued by the S&GAD department of the Punjab government, almost all the demands of the PCS/PMS/PSS cadres have been met and now PMS Officers are also being posted as Deputy District Officer (Revenue) in order of seniority as recommended by the Cabinet Committee formed by the Chief Minister Punjab. Like-wise, officers belonging to provincial services are also considered for posting as Provincial Secretary, Senior Member Board of Revenue, Commissioner and DCO. It is significant to note that nine meetings of PSB-I & nine meetings of PSB-II have been convened by the Punjab chief secretary since 2009 and a total of 320 provincial service officers have been cleared for promotion in different grades in these meetings. There are 5 ex-PCS/PSS officers in Grade 21, 37 in Grade 20, 105 in Grade 19 and 170 in Grade 18, against a share of 11, 53, 111 and 302 posts of the respective grades, as per the IPCC formula.

Similarly, for the posting of officers belonging to PCS/PSS in grade BS-18 and above, a total of 39 officers have been nominated for National Management Course since 2009, 95 officers have been nominated for Senior Management Course since 2008, 124 officers of grade BS-18 to BS-19 have been nominated for training in MPDD department during 2008-2010 and 191 other officers of grade BS-17 &18 were also nominated during 2009-11. It is worthwhile that Punjab government has regularized the services of as many as 82,562 officers and officials belonging to different departments during the last three years.

These included 70,004 officials from one to 15 grades and 12,558 officers of grade-16 and above. This shows strong commitment of the Punjab government towards the welfare of the provincial government machinery. However, Lahore Civil Secretariat protest shows the sad state of affairs of Punjab Civil Service which is supposed to behave in a way that doesn’t belittle its immaculate social stature, competence and intellect. Unfortunately, it appears that some PCS officers are trying to hoodwink the people with their unlawful demands which are self-motivated, un-constitutional and against the spirit of federation and constitution of Pakistan 1973. If they have any disagreement with the Moeen Qureshi formula of division of federal services in provinces then they should adopt legal means for redressal and should avoid behaving like a political activist.

Their demand of removing 300 DMG officers working against different posts in Punjab is unlawful as if we dislocate the DMG then who will handle sensitive affairs between provinces and the Centre. Can PCS fill vacuum of DMGs competence? They want to enjoy the GOR-1 Bungalows but for that they should also be able to exhibit competence of the elite DMG. They should keep in mind that PCS and the DMG are two similar faces of the Civil Service in Pakistan who should learn to work in their respective domains. They should also try to prevent rampant corruption in government offices, especially in public dealing departments.

Alas! The world is changing and changing for the worse. We have acquired many pleasures of life, we have stepped on the moon many decades ago, and we have achieved a million milestones of technological advancements, but on the other hand we have acquired more barbaric attitudes, parochial environs of thinking and shorter tempers leading to a world that is unsafe for the mankind like never before. We are ready to slit the throats of brothers on slightest possible political, religious and social differences. This imbecilic and insane attitude has led the mankind to fight two World Wars, in which millions of people were killed, but still nothing was achieved instead of bloodshed and long serving havoc. In Pakistan, the things are not less different. Hundreds of innocent people are killed each year because of our shorter tempers and parochial attitudes. Shia-Sunni religious rivalry, ethnic strife and political differences have claimed thousands if not millions of innocent Pakistanis. Most of these differences are minute, and can easily be resolved through table talk/negotiations, but unfortunately we have become so much imbedded in fighting on petty issues that everyone seems to turn a deaf ear to the calls of rapprochement and reconciliation. We should school our temper in order to bring peace and humanity in vogue.

Islam is a religion of peace and Pakistan was created in the name of Islam. Being a Muslim and Pakistani we should strive to become the torch bearers of peace, tranquillity, humanity and brotherhood. Quid-e-Azam, while delivering his historic speech said:

“You may belong to any caste, creed or religion, but this has nothing to do with the affairs of state”

In light of above statement, we should nip the evil of escalating parochial thinking, religious strife and political difference in the bud to create a humanitarian society where our behaviour will be dictated by our social and religious norms instead of the whims of temper.

Manifestation of Power (Government) vs. Restraint in the use of Power (Government)

Analysis of an Issue Sample Topic

GRE

Some people are of the view that, of all the manifestations of power, restraint in the use of that power impresses people most. On the other hand, it can be noted that the restraint in the use of power in that place, where maelstrom of mismanagement is already creating havoc, is disastrous. I shall present my arguments refuting the former statement and favouring the latter one.

It is a hard fact that we humans only capitulate to someone who manifests his authority and power. We are neither docile nor meek to the vulnerable. In both public and private sectors, the manifestation of power is necessary to drive the machination of success. People will resort to shirk from work if there is no authority to forestall their sluggishness, by its manifestation of power. I would like to quote the examples from both the private & public sector.

If we look at the incumbent condition of governance in Pakistan then it will become quite obvious that lack in the inclination of government in terms of manifestation of its power have created a whirlpool of chaos. Look at the issue of sugar hoarding, the prices have jumped up to Rs.55 per kg in this month, from Rs.35 per kg of previous month. Where was the government slumbering all the time? Was there no one on the guard? Its poigent to note that government was alive to the situation but it was not ready to foil the scheming of hording or in other words it was not inclined to manifest its power because all the big wigs have their hands red in the plot of sugar hoarding. Now the price controlling magistrates under the supervision of sagacious executives of Punjab have started manifestation of government's power by raiding the havens of hoarders. On the other hand, the sugar mill owner have started complaining against the raids because they are the ones who think that of all the manifestations of power, restraint in the use of that power impresses people most.

Now i would like to quote the example of private sector industry where all the staff works under the command and control of a single chairman. If the chairman doesn't manifest his power, by carrot and stick policy, then the people will only shirk work. A cogent example is from one of the world's second largest IT enterprise where the former virtuoso CEO, manifests its authority by vituperating the sloth software engineering of his organization.

It is quite obvious from these examples that the adamant human nature can only be controlled by the manifestation of power and authority by the controlling authority, invoked at the right time and tide of the social circus.

"Quality vs. Quantity of Bureaucracy!!!"

TOWARDS A BETTER ADMINISTRATION

ANALYSIS OF SAMPLE ISSUE TOPIC (GRE)

A democratized government is responsible for safeguarding the collective rights, privileges & interests of the people. Unlike dictatorship, democracy enables all and sundry to directly question the administrative authorities of the government. On the other hand, dividing the public departments into discrete units and increasing the density of bureaucracy will sharply dampens the direct approach of the people towards their representative government.

It's a matter of fact that bureaucracy is perhaps an important pillar of government and it's efficacy & dexterity should be increased by consolidating and revitalizing the inner structure, instead of increasing the number of officials that will create more burden on budget and hampers the direct approach of the people towards their representatives. I would like to quote an indigenous example over here, pertaining to the government of Pakistan. We have more than 100 ministries in Pakistan and these ministries are again sub divided into sub-ministries, divisions and parliamentary committees. As we know that the increase in the number of ministries and departments have a directly proportional effect on the number of officials. For example, Communications ministry is now divided into the four discrete independent ministries such as Postal ministry, telecommunications ministry, Ministry of IT & Ministry of Community & Works. If we just say by example that the parent ministry had 100 officials then now the four ministries have at least 300 officials because the number of officials increases with the number of ministries. According to the reports of transparency international and "Dawn August 3rd,2009", the government is reconsidering of joining the four again because of the degrading managerial environment.

Another and perhaps more elucidating example is of Local Government System of Pakistan. Before the local government system there was only one seat of Assistant Commissioner in a district but after the LGS, the post of Assistant Commissioner was divided in discrete parts such as DDO(R), DDO(Coordination), DDO(Finance) & DDO(judicial Magistrate). The result was quiet alarming as the International Crisis Group (ICG) named the Local government of Pakistan as the most corrupt local government system of the world. This shows how the alacrity of the dexterous officers is being marred by the division of bureaucracy.

If we look at the administrative setup of other countries then it would be quiet visible that the countries which have small administrative setup, with less number of officials have better quality of administration. It shows how the increase in the number of officials decreases the quality of administration and degrades the symbiotic relationship between the government and the people.

ONE MAN'S AUTHORITY VS COLLECTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE SETUP

Analysis of an Issue Sample Topic (GRE)

A successful and productive administration of any company or even a state requires the collective and progressive participation of all the incumbent elements involved in the fortification of it. It is quite difficult or somewhat impossible for one central authority to look after all the matters pertaining to a company or a state, without the involvement of any other elements of the enterprise. I shall present arguments favouring the idea of collective involvement of teams in which everyone makes decision, shares responsibilities and duties by refuting the idea of one man’s authority.

Collective decision making can solve many problems as different types of responsibilities are shared among different groups. It also enables the companies and states to think out of the box & to open new vistas of opportunities. One person’s authority can only think in a particular way because the thinking of a person is secluded or confined by the environment in which he lives. I would like to quote the example of “District Government System of Pakistan”. This system comprises of a person having all the central authority called “District Nazim”. He has the responsibility to look after all the aspects of a city’s life including; planning, development, education, general administration, budget, human resource management etc. How come a person can manage such mammoth tasks with a rudimentary education of only “Matriculation” & with no prior experience of administration? There is no authority in this “District Government System”, which can question the authority of these demigods. The result is in front of our eyes i.e. “complete anarchy”. According to a report of ICG (INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP), district government system is blamed to be the most corrupt system among all the incumbent local government systems throughout the world (ICG report 2003) .

On the other hand, if we look after the example of collective decision making then we can see a much efficient administration setup. I would again like to quote the example of Pakistan in a different way. Before the advent of “District Government System”, Deputy Commissioners were responsible to look after all the districts along with their team of professional officials, trained to perform their well specified tasks. DCs were accountable to Commissioners. Commissioners were accountable to Chief Secretary and chief secretaries worked in coordination with Chief Minister and so on everyone was responsible in that system. I would not say that the system was infallible but I can say one thing for sure that even a small official was somewhere involved in decision making with its hierarchal setup. Due to its efficiency & a setup of accountability, the government is again thinking to replace the “District Government System” with this “District Management Group” system.

If we look at a small business or a private enterprise then we can see that the collective efforts of all the members can enhance the company’s profile and hampers the top management to enforce its dictatorial views. It is a matter of great surprise that many engineers left Microsoft & joined Google because in Microsoft they were not included in decision making despite of the fact that they were given quite handsome pays.

In a nutshell, we can say that the active and progressive involvement of all the stake holders of a state or an enterprise is necessary for the state or an enterprise and even the employers themselves because it opens new vistas of creativity, boost the morale & working of the employs.

DEVOLUTION IN PAKISTAN (REGRESSION)

[ICG(International Crisis Group) unveils the true picture of Musharaff's much touted devolution plan , aimed to destroy the very foundations of administrative & judicial system of Pakistan]

ICG:EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pakistan's military government launched a campaign for political devolution in 2000 that it said was aimed at transferring administrative and financial power to local governments. The scheme was to strengthen local control and accountability and, according to President Pervez Musharraf, "empower the impoverished". In practice, however, it has undercut established political parties and drained power away from the provinces while doing little to minimise corruption or establish clear accountability at a local level. The reforms, far from enhancing democracy, have strengthened military rule and may actually raise the risks of internal conflict.
Under the Devolution of Power Plan announced in August 2000, local governments were to be elected on a non-party basis in phased voting between December 2000 and July 2001. District and sub-district governments have since been installed in 101 districts, including four cities. Operating under its respective provincial Local Government Ordinance 2001, each has its Nazim and Naib Nazim (mayor and deputy mayor), elected council and administration.
Like previous local government plans, Musharraf's called for re-establishing elected local councils at district and sub-district levels. It promised substantial autonomy for elected local officials and, most notably, placed an elected official as overall head of district administration, management and development, reversing a century-old system that subordinated elected politicians to bureaucrats.
Musharraf's scheme ostensibly aimed at establishing the foundations of genuine local democracy. However, the main rationale for devolution was and remains regime legitimacy and survival. Aside from the widespread allegations of rigging and manipulation that have shadowed them, the non-partisan nature of the local elections has exacerbated ethnic, caste and tribal divisions and undermined the organisational coherence of political parties.
Devolution, in fact, has proved little more than a cover for further centralised control over the lower levels of government. Despite the rhetoric from Islamabad of empowerment, local governments have only nominal powers. Devolution from the centre directly to the local levels, moreover, negates the normal concept of decentralisation since Pakistan's principal federal units, its four provinces, have been bypassed. The misuse of local government officials during the April 2002 presidential referendum and the October 2002 general elections has left little doubt that these governments were primarily instituted to create a pliant political elite that could help root the military's power in local politics and displace its traditional civilian adversaries.
Friction is growing between various levels of government, especially since the military transferred power, at least formally, to the central and provincial governments that were formed after the 2002 elections. These tensions are partly the result of the manner in which the devolution plan was devised and implemented in the absence of elected officials and against the strong opposition of the major political parties, civil society and media.
Despite its lack of domestic legitimacy, the devolution plan has considerable support from donors, who mistakenly believe it is advancing democracy and building down military rule. For now, the military's backing as well as this external support works in its favour. But low domestic acceptance undermines its long-term prospects, and the military's political engineering that accompanies it is widening divisions at the local and provincial levels. Some of these could well lead to greater domestic violence and instability.

SECLUDED VEILS

((FREELANCE ARTICLE, WRITTEN ON SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT))

It’s an old adage that both man & woman play an integral role in the hermetic episode of life. This adage may be true for a large part of burgeoning world but it’s far from realization for a passive country like Pakistan. This Promised Land is a place where so called enforcers of social, religious & cultural norms push the fair sex behind the dark passages of secluded veils. Pakistan is perhaps the least gender sensitive region in the world. It is the only region in the world where men outnumber women. The sex ratio is 105.7 men to every 100 women. The situation is extremely alarming for rural & underdeveloped areas. In the rural areas, women are like slaves subject to drudgery. They are there just to obey their fathers, brothers and husbands. They do not have the right to decide about themselves because women are considered as foolish creatures according to the dominant social and cultural norms. Likewise marriage is also a sort of trade between different families both in the rural and urban areas. They are highly vulnerable to violation of their rights to life. Women are not only subjected to financial discrimination, but they are also victims of inhuman customs and laws such as:
Karo Kari, Qasas , Marriage to the Quran & education as a social taboo.
Karo Kari is the form of honour killings. Hundred of women are murdered every year in the name of honour. It is a matter of great dismay that almost 90 % of these cases are planned to gain petty benefits like grabbing the land of enemies, protecting the fiefdom from transferring to other family, taking revenge for committing a love marriage. A few examples of this heinous trade are enough to clarify the depth of this victimization:
In the village of Moratha(remote village of Sindh) there was a case of Karo Kari(honour killing). The motive of the killing was that the murderer wanted to marry a married woman. He killed the husband of that woman and his own innocent sister and he was released from jail after a few months.
Many of the cases of Karo Kari are related to love marriage. Recently(a few months ago) a woman with her little child of five months, husband and four other members of her in-laws, was killed because she had committed the crime of love marriage. Most of the women in Pakistan are not allowed to marry a person of their choice.
There are hundreds of such cases that are not registered. But if we go to the root cause of these honour killings we see that they are linked to the question of land, water, money and property. But again, only the women of the poor classes are victims of this inhuman custom of Karo Kari. This custom is seldom implemented against rich women.

“Qasas” is an integral part of Islamic Law but unfortunately, the way it is abused over here is intolerable. It is also used to victimize women, because under this law if a person kills somebody and the family of the victim compromises with the killer then they are paid an agreed amount of money, land and of course women by the assassin's family.

“Marriage to Quran” is another spurious law that is enough to defy all the bounds of religious and social norms. It is common in Sindh. Under this law a woman has to live without a husband throughout her life. But this law is only applied among the class of landlords who want to protect their fiefdoms from going to another family by grabbing the land of their sisters and daughters.
Education is another taboo for the girls of underdeveloped provinces like Baluchistan & NWFP. Only 10 percent of rural girls receive education in Baluchistan. In these regions, Education is considered as a social evil for the girls.

“In context of Baluchistan, they are among the few girls who go to school”
“Look in the eyes of these sweet little girls. You can see a shine of a long forgotten hope.”

WOMEN IN THE LIGHT OF ISLAM:

“Western media often distorts the image of Islamic teachings under the umbrella of extremism & terrorism”

Islam safeguards the spiritual, social & economical rights of women which can be clarified by the following verses of Quran:
‘He (God) it is who did create you from a single soul and therefrom did create his mate, that he might dwell with her (in love)’…(Quran 7:189)
“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to him will We give a new life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward according to the their actions. (Quran 16:97, see also 4:124).”
“When news is brought to one of them, of (the Birth of) a female (child), his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain her on (sufferance) and contempt, or bury her in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on? (Quran 16: 58-59).”
According to Islam, no one can suppress the women to marry against her will.

Ibn Abbas reported that a girl came to the Messenger of God, Muhammad (P.), and she reported that her father had forced her to marry without her consent. The Messenger of God gave her the choice . . . (between accepting the marriage or invalidating it). (Ibn Hanbal No. 2469). In another version, the girl said: “Actually I accept this marriage but I wanted to let women know that parents have no right (to force a husband on them)” (Ibn Maja, No. 1873).

It is a matter of common sense that no country can make a great stride without the active participation of the half of its total population. If we want to bring some change to the desolated picture of our country then we have to bring each & every individual in the main stream without committing any harassment and victimization.

GOOD BREAKFAST, BAD SUPPER

Someone has rightly said that hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper. Our nation is a live and vivid example of this saying. The people of Pakistan have been lured by the politicians, military generals & feudal lords for the last 60 years. Every new general election or a military coup gives us a new creed of hope. We recollect all our optimistic speculations to believe that the new reign will provide us all the basic necessities of life like shelter, food, job & security. Last elections are an example of how our politicians play with the feelings and problems of the people to gain petty benefits. In these elections, people gave their verdict by giving a vast majority to anti-Musharaff forces i.e PML(N), PPP & ANP because these parties gave a new hope of better future as a good breakfast to the “Simple Simons” of this country. Expectations were sky high; people thought that the new government will solve all their problems with a single stroke of pen but Alas! Every dream ends up in despair but don’t worry our dreams are not worthy of benediction under the rule of Zardaris & Musharaffs of this land. After its establishment, the new government tried its best to defy all the traditions of public welfare. The escalating prices of gasoline, food items & products of daily use show that our politicians have learned nothing from the past. The real administrative problems like the abolishment of “Devolution Plan” & the “Restoration of Judiciary” are still are in the pipeline. Excessive & unsolicited use of national exchequer by our politicians is a major source of nation debt. It’s a matter of great dismay that we are losing Pakistan with every tick of the clock and the resentment of general public is on the rise. The good breakfast of hope has become a bad supper of resentment & it is all because of our burgeoning evil desires.

 

Virgin Rain

     

Tick tick tick … with every tick of the clock.

                                                The water drops like the pearl of the heaven

Dip dip dip … with every dip in the splashing water

                                                We can hear our heart thumping out

Take take take…. Take a deep breadth

                                                To fill your heart with aroma of joy

Look  look look in the eyes of my friend

                                                I can see a deep mysterious shine welcoming a new creed of pleasure

 

 

SLAVES OF THE TIME

We are all the slaves of the time, watching our lives dwindling with rhyme 

Ye divide the time in minutes & seconds, racing against time spawning with crime 

Making the fun of others, we "Simple Simon” of time 

Dani can see auroras of time swinging like the saline of the lime 

Can't think more at this time of the night coz we are the one in catacombs of time

 

 KHURRAM PERVAIZ

 1:15 AM  (  June 30,2007 )

REFLECTIONS OF MY PAST

WHEN I WAS JUST ONE YEAR OLD

I COULD STILL REMEMBER THOSE WINTER DAYS

WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER FURQAN PERVAIZ

PLAYING WITH TOYS

ACHTUNG UBER SOLDAT

ACHTUNG UBER SOLDAT

SONG OF THE PEOPLE

[THIS SONG WAS WRITTEN TO UNVEIL THE TRUE PICTURE OF JUNTA GOVERNMENT IN PAKISTAN]

Each morning after Sunblast
Feel the rhythm of junta dogmatism
I waited by the headquarters
In time for benediction

Living a law just short of delusion
When we fall in love there's confusion
This must be the place I waited years to leave

To our voices nobody's listening

To our tears nobody’s seeing
We shiver in the rain by the touchline

We are left spell bound by the axis of junta

Searching for a ride to graveyard

Then a coach ride to the station

"My lord, the carriage awaiteth!"

Living a law just short of delusion
When we fall in love there's confusion
This must be the place I waited years to leave
This must be the place I waited years to leave
And how
How long?

I am seeing the things to see them never again

The swarm of loaded men squeezing the den of the local men

Killing the woodland men, on the orders of alien men

The fear of hetman ◌

I don’t want to belong

I am listening to the words I thought I would never hear again

A litany of saints and other men in uniform

Unfurling every nook of their beard to keep the uniform in place

They are, they are the slaves of a man

Kneeling on the red parquet

Whatever has gone wrong?

The fear and feeling hopelessness
I don't want to belong

With a peep of nostalgia

I can see a general, waiting outside “Senorita Home” ◌

Giving an outstanding example to the next generation

I don’t want to belong

With a system of district rule

Giving every devil a chance to rule

Devolution & demolition giving the right

For every street dog to rule

I dreamt I was back in uniform
And a candidate for examination
History, someone had blundered

Sordid and squalid rule must remain plundered
And a voice rapped "knuckle under!"
Living a law just short of delusion
When we fall in love there's confusion
This must be the place I waited years to leave
This must be the place I waited years to leave
And how
And how
How long?

◌ COURTESY:

1) HAMOOD-UR-REHMAN COMMISION REPORT ON THE FALL OF DECCA

2) MILITARY. ETI: POLISH

KHURRAM PERVAIZ

October 2007