DMG officers meet to plan protests against govt bullying

ISLAMABAD: Frustration within the bureaucracy has finally come out following the unceremonious removal of Secretary Establishment Sohail Ahmad as various officers associations are gearing up efforts for coordinated protests.
A significant development occurred in Lahore where DMG Officers Association met Friday night to take stock of the situation. “The government must know: We are public servants, not puppets,” said a well-placed officer venting out frustration over the disrespect of his community.
The DMG officers have decided to frame a charter carrying their demands and reservations to be taken up with the government, said an officer who attended the meeting. 
The officers are waiting for Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s return from UK to discuss the issue with him first.
After lady officer Anita Turab inspired the bureaucracy by waging protests through wearing arm-bands, more people are joining the cause. This bold lady has been wearing the arm-band for last three days considering it her legitimate right of freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
While DMG officers have come forward to evolve a strategy to avert Sohail-like treatment in future, the police group lags behind no matter how Zafar Qureshi is being harassed, hounded and dumped.
The likely demands include the protection of tenure that is not guaranteed resulting in a continued wave of transfers/postings of officers that is neither good for them nor for the country. Had there been tenure protection system, Sohail Ahmad would not have been treated this way. The second likely demand is a merit-based promotion system without any favouritism that has otherwise become the hallmark of Pakistan officialdom. 
There are several instances where officers have been promoted by the recent governments on the basis of loyalty to the prime minister, not on the grounds of competency. So much so that the Supreme Court had to set aside promotions into BS-22 where the prime minister used his discretion unfairly.
Third demand in the list is open evaluation of the officers instead of weaving a wall of secrecy around that is a tool used for constant blackmailing.
While DMG officers feel resented following the maltreatment of Sohail Ahmad, there is no effort on part of the police service to wage a movement for their rights no matter what happened with Zafar Qureshi, chief investigator in NICL case, and Hussain Asghar, lead investigator of Hajj corruption scam. 
Both officers belong to the police service. Zafar Qureshi is paying through his nose for obeying the orders of the Supreme Court, putting at risk his personal and public relations.
Qureshi’s family is under traumatic stress and facing life threats. As he refused to bow before all types of pressures applied by the government, Qureshi is being implicated in some case that could lead towards his arrest. Nevertheless, the police officers are unmoved just waiting for their turn to learn a lesson.
But there is resentment in general among the officers regardless of their service groups. “Zafar Qureshi has left a great impact on the young officers,” said a bureaucrat who joined service five years back.

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