PESHAWAR
Officials of the Management Cadre Officers Association, including male and female officers, staged a protest demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Thursday against the proposed induction of contract employees into the education management cadre.
The protesters, led by Association Chairman Gul Raj Bibi and General Secretary Imran Jadoon, chanted slogans against what they described as the forced inclusion of contract employees in the management cadre. They termed the government’s move unconstitutional and illegal and demanded that recruitment to the cadre be conducted strictly on merit through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission (KPPSC).
Addressing the protesters, Gul Raj Bibi said the rights of serving management cadre officers were being undermined by bringing in people recruited on a contract basis through what he described as an improper process. He rejected the government’s decision to merge school leaders into the management cadre.
He said vacancies in the management cadre should first be advertised through the Public Service Commission, followed by a competitive examination, and only those contract employees who qualified through the prescribed process should be considered for appointment.
“Bringing 2,500 school leaders into the management cadre without a competitive process is unfair,” he said, adding that the move would also deprive highly qualified young people from the merged districts of an opportunity to compete for the posts through the Public Service Commission.
He further warned that the proposed induction could adversely affect the seniority of existing management cadre officers.
General Secretary Imran Jadoon demanded that the government ensure merit, transparency and fairness in recruitment to the management cadre. He alleged that efforts were being made to induct around 2,500 temporarily recruited employees into the cadre despite the expiry of their contractual appointments.
Jadoon said the association was in contact with senior government officials and would continue its protest until the issue was resolved. He warned that officers from across the province would continue demonstrations and resist any attempt to induct contract employees into the management cadre through what he termed an unlawful route.
“If necessary, we will also approach the courts,” he said.
The protesting officers, carrying placards and banners, called upon the government to withdraw the proposed move and refrain from making appointments on the basis of personal preferences. They urged the authorities to uphold merit and protect the rights and seniority of existing management cadre officers.
