Pakistan People's Party (PPP) MNA Mian Khurram Jahangir Watto has submitted two bills in the National Assembly that include The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2011 and Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2011. The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2011 seeks to ensure more opportunities of employments for youth and protecting them from disappointment and frustration due to unemployment and it will also introduce more transparency and accountability.
In its statement of objects and reasons, the bill stated that population of the country is increasing day by day. Similarly, the literacy rate has been increased, but no employment opportunities have been created to meet the growing needs. Highly qualified youths are wandering desperately in search of jobs with their degrees in their hands but unable to get employment. However, those government officials or servants who had not done anything new or revolutionary during their long tenure of civil or other service for the development and progress of the country are being re-employed after their superannuation to further increase burden on national exchequer without any utility.
The bill further stated that now it is becoming routine matter that unemployed persons are committing suicides, but the persons who exploited the resources of the country are still exploiting the resources and opportunities with their influence or in collaboration with power circles or otherwise on different pretext without adding anything to credit of the nation after enjoying long tenures of service. In the same way, the persons who are removed, terminated, dismissed due to any reason are also being re-employed against civil service posts on contract or otherwise.
Similarly, a large number of people, who got retirement being paid from defence budget, are also being appointed or re-employed regularly or on contract basis against civil posts under the Civil Servants Act, 1973, although they are getting pensions after retirements in addition to other perks and privileges for which they are entitled from their previous services.
There is also an increasing trend for appointment of retired civil servants in management scales ie MP Scales on hefty salaries either in Government departments, organisations, etc, or in the statutory bodies and getting more perks and privileges, which they had never enjoyed during the civil service.
Even some civil servants manage such high profile positions during their service and immediately join after their superannuation or retirement. They are getting such big salaries which they had never got during their civil service. The Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2011, submitted to the House seeks to ensure and maintain the beauty of the only pre-planned city in Pakistan by making it free from encroachment and unauthorized occupations and possessions in any way or on any pretext.
The MNA stated that encroachments or unauthorized occupation and possession of state lands and properties is not considered any breach of duty or morality or even violation against any law, if it is prohibited by any law. In its statement of objects and reasons, the bill stated that state lands and properties worth billions of rupees are either encroached, occupied or possessed by influential or whoever can maintain such encroachments, occupations or possessions.
The Government/Capital Development Authority had so many times given alternative lands/plots to such unauthorized encroachers, occupiers or possessors from time to time, but still the places of such encroachments, occupation or possessions are occupied by the same or other violators.
No action is taken when such unauthorized activity is initiated, but latter on the pretext of law and order problems such violators are being rewarded for their violations to grant them concessions in the form of plots or other facilities. It is the sheer mockery of law. Thus, it is necessary to punish such responsible person along with actual violators, who are doing such violations either with full sponsorship or with force.
To enforce the law and ensure implementation, there is also need of deterrent measures against the violator as well as the person who is authorised to enforce such law and the bill provides sufficient deterrent measures in the form of fines, cancellation of allotment or lease, as the case may, disciplinary action which finally may amount to removal of negligent officer from service.