Govt, PCS ready for tit-for-tat reactions

LAHORE The protesting PCS officers have refused to budge even an inch from their previously stated stance till their demands are actualised, while the Punjab government has also geared up to give a matching response to the 'released-on-bail provincial officers. After the announcement by the PCS Officers Welfare Association to hold a protest at every cost on March 21 (tomorrow), the provincial Home Department has extended imposition of Section 144 till March 27. Moreover, the government has also decided to curtail and control protesters at every cost. It has also issued a warning that the provincial officers should not violate the law. Meanwhile, sources have confided that the provincial administration is also working out a plan to fill in the slots, which could fall vacant if the PCS officers keep on protesting. One such step is entertaining applications of college teachers working in other districts to join as Section Officers and Deputy Secretaries. Moreover, the Services and General Administration Department has filled posts with the DMG officers, which had fallen vacant because of the PCS officers termination. On Saturday, besides issuing termination letters to 26 protesting officers, the government has issued show-cause notices to 50 officers, and they have been directed to submit their replies within seven days. On the other hand, provincial chapters of the PCS officers Association have also announced their support to the Punjab chapter. They wore black bands on Saturday, and have threatened to join the protestors as well. In addition to this, the All Pakistan Clerks Association and Civil Secretariat Association will also join tomorrows protest. Sources have confided that upon directions from Chief Secretary Punjab, the administrative secretaries twice checked the attendance of their PCS subordinates, and got it ensured that provincial officers should not leave the office after marking their attendance. Because of this digression in attention, the file work was very slow. In most of the offices, the officials remained busy in rumour mongering and whispering, while their body language suggested unrest among them because Fridays protest and arrests. Attendance at the Punjab Civil Secretariat remained around 70 per cent. Heavy contingents of police, both in uniform and plain clothes, were deployed inside and outside the premises. Overall, the colonial structure presented a gloomy look, if not a deserted one. Meanwhile, neither protest nor strike was carried out, which was expected after the Fridays arrests. According to the spokesperson of the Punjab government, the attendance of officers and officials in all offices of Punjab government throughout the province, and Punjab Civil Secretariat remained as per routine and the official work continued without hindrance during office hours and no untoward incident took place. In a press release, the spokesman said although the work in all departments continued as usual, yet disciplinary action had been initiated against 26 provincial officers. He warned if anyone tried to create hurdle in work strict disciplinary action would be taken against them. Meanwhile, keeping in view the apprehension, provincial Home Department has imposed ban under section-144 till March 27 in and around of Punjab Civil Secretariat, Poonch House, Old P&D, P&D Building, Board of Revenue, Communication & Works, Irrigation, Management & Professional Departments for taking out any rally or procession, holding of public meetings, demonstrations and delivering objectionable speeches, distribution of objectionable and provocative written material, disruption of official business in any manner and assembly of five and more persons. In his post-release statement to the media, President of the Association Rai Manzoor Hussain Nasir said they would continue to fight for their rights and would not bow down till the DMG officers were removed from the province. We are ready to face imprisonment but our struggle will continue, he vowed, adding that protest would held at every cost on March 21.