Karachiites will certainly remember fiery speeches from Altaf Hussain and other MQM leaders of the 1980’s and 1990’s where he argued and pleaded against the rural-urban quota system which had been imposed in the Sindh province since 1973. MQM, at that point, had argued strongly that such a quota system was not only undemocratic, but also prejudiced, and sought to alienate the educated urban middle class, and create a permanent rift between the Sindhis and the Mohajirs.
The argument, as I remember clearly from public rallies and TV appearances of Altaf Hussain, was that Pakistan needed to move towards a merit-based system, and far away from a quota system. This would be just and equitable, and would also ensure that the best qualified people were taking up government jobs.
With that party manifesto in mind, the news today in Daily Times that Sindh gov’t has decided to do away with a Rural-Urban quota system, in favor of a political party based quota system, where MQM gets to have 50% of the appointment offers, comes as a surprise.
Yes, maybe I should not be as surprised as I am given the recent history of MQM’s performance as a political party and in the government, but it still boggles my mind how they consider this to be just, equitable and better for the province? And what happened to the idea that a quota system was creating a dangerous rift between the different communities? According to the news:
For the first time since 1973, the Sindh government will appoint officers according to their party affiliations rather than on an urban-rural quota. This decision, made about two months ago, has proved extremely unpopular with ministers and other workers of the government who are planning to protest.
Thus, the quota system has been replaced with a ‘party quota’. The former policy stated that 60 percent of employees will be from rural areas and 40 percent will be from urban areas. The new policy says that 50 percent of employees will be from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), 30 percent from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and the remaining 20 percent from other ruling coalition parties.
A recruitment cell has been set up at Chief Minister House and the CM has put close aide Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi in charge. All departments, excluding those running under the control of MQM ministers, have been asked to send their appointment letters to the cell from where the letters will be distributed among the “successful� candidates. Under the unannounced agreement, all vacancies in the jurisdiction of the City District Government Karachi would also be filled through MQM’s nominations.
While governments all over the world have political appointees in certain key posts, it is almost unheard of in modern competitive economies to have such a ridiculous quota system. Does this mean that non-members of political parties, or members of opposition parties, now have no chance of getting government jobs even if they were much better qualified for them? What does this mean for the government bureaucracy that is already plagued with nepotism, incompetence, and corruption. And to say the least, what about continuity in operation. Will we see a change of faces, and confusion, at the local post office, courts, government offices every time the provincial government changes?
Not surprisingly, civic organization and labor unions are starting to protest against such a plan, even if currently no new hires are being made by the government.
Sources said that provincial ministers of the ruling party have advised their party workers and employees to protest. A leader of the Sindh Employees United Alliance and president of the All Pakistan Clerks Association Peral Dayo told Daily Times that they planned to file a petition in the Sindh High Court and would hold protests. Unions have announced a Sindh-wide protest and some of them have said that the issue will be taken up at the All Pakistan Democratic Movement meeting in Islamabad today.
The policy seems not only as bad as, if not worse, than the earlier policy of quota system, but is also bound to create further fissures between the working class in Sindh. There is no need to provide more fuel to the divisive party politics that is already burdening the economy of Sindh.
This issue is already causing a stir among nationalists in Sindh. Reports of hunger strike in Khairpur have already made it to the National Press here.
I am apathetic towards most political parties and disinclined towards the rest, I guess there is no room in the quota system for me.
When things are going bad, people take it on themselves to make it worse. When will we start using our brains and for once become Pakistanis. India was created in 1947, Bangladesh 1971, its about time Pakistan was too.
I think although previous quota system was unjust because in that after all political recruitments were done. this is also unjust what we need a competitive recruitment that is through some standard medium throughout the country. thats what is requirement of time.
Great move by a great party created by great intelligence and a great leader shaheed Zia ul Haq! Just great great great!!!!
While I agree that the idea is absurd and I’m not fan of MQM, however, the article reads like a Bush administration intelligence report, quoting anonymous sources and one guy from the far right. No confirmation that this is infact true.
A truly absurd idea. I grew up in an ‘urban-rural quota system’ and saw undeserving ‘city boys’ getting admissions in colleges on fake ‘rural domicile certificates’. I agree with Owais. Allocate some seats for the ‘born disadvantaged ones’ and leave rest to the merits. Sixty years on we are still thinking in ‘Sindhi/non-Sindhi’ terms. What a shame.
On an other point. Why not to adopt Sindhi preferred Arabic spelling of the word ‘Sindh’ and do away with the need of double Arabic lettering in the official emblem. Do in Rome…….
@Shahbaz Khan well said! the quota system is a method to adress the symptom not the disease itself.
@Owais Mughal:
Belonging to a backward rural background does not mean that the person should be preferred over a more suitable candidate. I have personally been a victim of this unjust preference and you cannot imagine how damaging it is to the education system, the quality of our workforce, and the society in general. No doubt the people of rural areas are at a disadvantage in terms of quality education but compensating them by giving them admissions and jobs for which they do not qualify is not only plain injustice but also extremely detrimental to national development. Instead, the government should increase the educational grants for the rural areas and give incentives to people willing to teach there. If we keep allocating unjust quotas for people of rural areas, the dream of educational development in rural areas will never be realized.
The proponents of quota system should observe the difference between the educational standards of Sindh, where rural quota has been in place since 1973, and the rest of the country. I am sure you will agree that over the years the quality of rural education in the other three provinces has seen a significant progress because of a competition with the urban areas. On the other hand, Sindh is standing at the same point as it was when quota system was implemented. It may be pertinent to mention here that originally the quota system was intended to be scrapped in a period of 20 years.
Quota system is nothing but an excuse for the laziness of the government in developing rural education.
I assume that party affiliations already have an impact on candidate selection. So its interesting to note that they’ve somehow structured it. Structure cronyism…hmm
anyways, Maybe it’s an election year gimmik?
Promise jobs if youre affiliate with MQM resulting in more votes etc.
Just my alternate take on the situation.