ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday directed Pakistan Post to hold a thorough probe into callous attitude of its officials who are reluctant to approve retirement of a “paralyzed” employee despite recommendation of the medical board.
He expressed dismay over the fact that the department had failed to consider the medical condition of a paralyzed employee and asked him to opt for premature retirement instead of providing him relief on medical grounds.
The president made these remarks while rejecting a representation of Pakistan Post 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.
While rejecting the representation, 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 further noted that Pakistan should be a country where compassion and rule of law were supreme.
The president took special exception to the fact that the agency ignored the recommendations of its board without assigning any reason merely on the ground that since only 3 months and 9 days were left in superannuation, hence, the employee might opt for premature retirement.
He termed this act of Pakistan Post 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 observed that in such matters compassion along with rules could make a big difference.
He said that ignoring the medical condition of an employee and rejecting the recommendations of the board 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.
As per details of the case, Abdul Qudoos (the complainant) had alleged that his father, Qadir Bux Bhatti, was serving as Assistant Post Master (BS-11), Pano Akil, who got paralyzed during his service due to two brain strokes.
A Special Medical Board (SMB) was constituted wherein all members, on 19.08.2020, unanimously recommended that 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 medical board, Pakistan Post Office Department conveyed through its letter, on 22.02.2021, that since three months and nine days were left in the superannuation of Qadir Bux; 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.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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