ISLAMABAD: Postings and transfers are a prerequisite for professional development of government officials and part of their service.
Article 218 (3) empowers the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to make necessary arrangements to ensure that the election is conducted honestly, justly and fairly in accordance with the law, said a press release issued by the ECP on Friday.
It said that a comprehensive transfer/posting plan was meant to groom and field a professionally competent cadre to manage the ECP affairs and do the important national service in a fair and efficient manner to the satisfaction of all stakeholders. The Rule 9 of the Election Commission of Pakistan (Officers & Servants) Rules, 1989 clearly states that “A person holding any appointment under the Commissioner shall be liable to serve anywhere in Pakistan and in any post under the Commissioner”.
Recent postings/transfers of the officer cadre were part of one of the ECP’s capacity building measures. The movement of officers was made to help them to get exposure and experience at different places/appointments and eventually groom them, make them able to deliver under varied situations and further ensure fairness and equal opportunity to all officers in carrier development. Serving of officers beyond the designated period makes them liable to allegation of partisanship.
Many officers in the ECP were serving at the same station for more than 10 years. Some were serving in difficult areas where they could not perform on a par with those who were serving in standard and soft areas.
The ECP press release said that government functionaries were usually transferred in rotation from one station to another station. Even within the ministries, they are transferred from one desk to another desk so as to enhance their learning skills and knowledge. Postings/transfers of officers would give a fair chance to officers serving in difficult areas to serve in standard and soft areas.
