Dr Alvi directs inquiry against Pakistaan Post’s officials for retiring an employee prematurely
Zubair Qureshi
President Dr Arif Alvi has directed the Pakistan Post Office Department to conduct an inquiry into what a President House’s statement termed “sad conduct of its officials for ignoring the recommendations of the Special Medical Board to retire an ailing employee on medical grounds.”
The president expressed dismay over the fact that the department instead of providing him relief on medical grounds failed to consider the medical condition of a paralyzed employee and asked him to opt for premature retirement.
The president made these remarks while rejecting a representation of the Pakistan Post Department (the Agency) against a decision of the Wafaqi Mohtasib asking it to redress the grievance of its employee in the light of the recommendations of the medical board.
As per details of the case, Mr Abdul Qudoos (the complainant) had alleged that his father, Mr Qadir Bux Bhatti, was serving as Assistant Post Master (BS-11), Pano Aqil, (Sindh) who got paralyzed during his service due to two brain strokes.
A Special Medical Board (SMB) was constituted wherein all members, on Aug 19, 2020, unanimously recommended that Mr Qadir Bux Bhatti, on the basis of his disease profile and clinical status, couldn’t continue his job and may be retired on medical grounds. Instead of implementing the recommendations of the medical board, Pakistan Post Office Department conveyed through its letter, on Feb 22, 2021, that since three months and nine days were left in the superannuation of Mr Qadir Bux and, therefore, he may apply for premature retirement.
Feeling aggrieved, the complainant approached the Wafaqi Mohtasib to seek justice which asked the Agency to implement the recommendations of its medical board. The Agency, however, filed a representation with the president against the order of the Mohtasib.
While rejecting the representation of the Pakistan Post Office Department, the president noted that it was quite unfortunate that instead of showing compassion, the department displayed obduracy and resistance in the matter and failed to act upon the recommendations of its own medical board. He stated that Pakistan should be a country where compassion and rule of law was supreme. The president took special exception to the fact that the agency ignored the recommendations of its SMB without assigning any reason merely on the ground that since only 3 months and 9 days were left in superannuation, hence, the employee may opt for premature retirement. He termed this act of agency as unjust, unreasonable and arbitrary as it was a departure from the established practice and procedures, and, therefore, constituted an act of maladministration.
The president in his decision wrote that in such matters compassion along with rules can make a big difference. He stated that ignoring the medical condition of an employee and rejecting the recommendations of SMB was saddening and unfortunate.
“Besides rejecting the representation, I would like to order an inquiry to be conducted by the agency itself on its sad conduct and inform Wafaqi Mohtasib within 45 days and action to be taken against those responsible”, the president ordered.
