General Pervez Musharraf
President & Chief Executive
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD
Respected Sir
The Scheduled Castes Federation of Pakistan (SCFP) has sent several requests to seek an appointment with a President, who proudly pursues vision of Quaid-e-Azam. The Scheduled Castes, the historic record of the independence movement proves, stood high on his agenda keeping in view their centuries old miseries suffered at the hands of so-called upper caste Hindus. This could be attested from the quotes from the Quaid-e-Azam, which have been derived from the web site of Government of Pakistan as many people at the helm of affairs have been disowning and questioning the authenticity of various quotations from Quaid's speeches which do not fulfil their requirements. Since it has been proved that in Pakistan too, only upper caste Hindus are the real beneficiaries in comparison to Scheduled Castes. This too could be verified from the record of the electoral and political systems prevailing in Pakistan after the death of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Despite being in overwhelming majority (70 per cent) in Pakistani Hindus, the Scheduled Castes have never been allowed 70 per cent share in political or electoral representation of both Hindus & Scheduled Castes after the untimely death of Quaid-e-Azam. Even during last three years period, the Scheduled Castes, especially their elected representatives or politicians, have never been consulted on the key national issues while upper caste Hindu leaders are invited by the Presidency to consult them on key national issues. Anyway, the Scheduled Castes are addict to being ignored and deprived at the hands of upper caste Hindus hence they can easily digest similar situation in the country founded by one their great saviours Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
However, being a member of a tribe which is enlisted in Scheduled Castes (Declaration) Ordinance, 1957, I would like to draw your kind attention towards the injustices being meted out to this most neglected and backward class of our nation. According to the existing provisions of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 (Currently held in abeyance) and the rules made thereunder, following specific, concessions were provided to the candidates of the Scheduled Castes applying for the government jobs. But it is sorry to say hat no benefit of these concessions has yet been allowed by any of the government authorities, except Federal Public Service Commission, Pakistan. The upper age limit relaxation of three years for the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, which has been specified in the Sub-Rule 2 of Rule 3 of the Civil Servants (Appointments, Transfers and Promotions) Rules, 1973 read with Establishment's Office Memorandum No. 9/1/7-DV, dated 29th November, 1973 (See Sl. No. 6[5] page No. 66 of the revised Estacode, 1992).
The reservation of ''6 percent of all vacancies'' to be filled by direct recruitment in all Pakistan services for the Scheduled Castes as specified vide Establishment Division's Office Memorandum No. 56/2/48-Estts. (ME) dated 19th October, 1948 (See Sl. No. 51 and 52 page No. 108-111 of the revised Estacode, 1992.
This fact of specific concessions may also be verified from recruitment rules of the FPSC which it has formulated for the competitive examination of Central Superior Services, bearings Nos. 4(a) (1) and 2 of chapter one and two respectively. Besides the Honourable Lahore High Court, in a writ Petition No. 1859/S of 1969, decided on 14th December 1971, has also held that the candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste communities are dully entitled to avail the benefit of the aforesaid concessions.
Apart from above, a special care and promotion of the interest of the Scheduled Castes was also guaranteed under articles 205 to 207 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic Of Pakistan, 1956 which reads as under.
Article 205: The Federal and Provincial Governments shall promote, which special care, the educational and economic interest of the Scheduled Castes and backward classes in Pakistan, and shall protect them from social injustice and exploitation.
Article 206: The President may appoint a Commission to investigate the conditions of Scheduled Castes and backward classes in Pakistan and make recommendations as to the steps taken and grants to be made by the Federal or Provincial Governments to improve their conditions. The Commission appointed under clause (I) shall investigate the matters referred to them and submit a report to the President with such recommendations as the Commission thinks fit, and copies of the report shall be laid before the National Assembly and the provincial Assemblies.
Article 207: There shall be a Special Officer for the Scheduled Castes and backward classes in Pakistan, to be appointed by the President. It shall be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matter relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes and backward classes by Article 205, to investigate the extent to which any recommendations of the Commission appointed under Article 206 are carried out, and to report his findings to the president as such intervals as the President shall cause all such reports to be laid before the National Assembly.
Though the assurances have been laid down clearly since long but their enforcement is yet awaited after 55 years. Sir, as I am a journalist, so I am receiving complaints from so many candidates of our community about the non-acceptance of their legal rights ensured under the constitution and the rules mentioned above.
Sir, in the light of above mentioned rules, I would request your kind honour to issue necessary directions to all concerned authorities to ensure that due benefit of all the concessions provided to the Scheduled Caste Community is to be allowed accordingly.
I may also point out that influential upper Hindu MNAs had tried to get this gift of Quaid-e-Azam to Scheduled Castes and convert it into minority quota. I would appeal you to please order that the job quota of the Scheduled Castes remains effective and is implemented in letter and spirit so that the sense of deprivation among the Scheduled Castes which prevails among them since centuries is removed atleast in the 21st century.
I would also request that arrangements be made for fair representation to the Scheduled Castes and other minorities in the National and Provincial Assemblies. Besides, it is suggested that Scheduled Castes should be given separate reserved seats from the Upper Caste Hindus. I also hope that atleast one Scheduled Castes person should be inducted in the Sindh cabinet where majority of Pakistan's Scheduled Castes are living.
I hope my request would be given a favourable consideration and would not be turned on dear ears as had been in the past.
Yours Faithfully
(S Surendar Valasai)
Valasai Colony, Kaloi,
Via Naunkot
Tharparker SINDH