MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Food Department on Thursday suspended 18 officers and employees for going on strike and disrupting the flour supply across the state.
The suspension orders issued by the Directorate of Food AJK stated that the food grain supervisors and inspectors were suspended from their jobs immediately for going on strike while being part of the department designated as an “Essential Service”.
The other charges include disrupting the delivery of goods from the mills, inciting other employees to go on strike, and creating a food emergency across the state.
The orders further stated that all the employees under suspension will be present at the Directorate Food Rawalpindi, until the completion of the inquiry, and a charge sheet will be issued separately for their disciplinary action.
As per details, the employees who have been suspended include Sajid Iqbal, Atiq Ahmed Abbasi, Syed Zawar Haider, Hafiz Imtiaz Hussain, Salik Zulfiqar, Abrar Jamil, Zahid Iqbal, Sohail Sadiq, Chaudhry Mazhar, Nazim Iftikhar, Khawaja Mumtaz, Arshad Sadiq, Farrukh Rafique Mughal, Shahid Nazim, Qamar Abbas, Altaf Khokhar, and Safir Abbasi.
According to sources, departmental action has also been initiated against the concerned employees, while an inquiry committee has been formed to further investigate the matter.
Crackdown intensifies
Meanwhile, the crackdown has intensified further against Food Department employees on the instructions of the Chief Secretary.
The departmental action came after the Food Employees Association launched a protest movement and work stoppage. Following the strike, the government adopted a zero-tolerance policy and initiated indiscriminate departmental and legal actions.
The Food Secretary and the Director General of Food took immediate administrative steps, withdrawing the powers of the officers and officials who participated in the protest.
The department has further handed over several charges to the junior staff, while further suspensions and criminal proceedings are also under consideration.
On the other hand, the suspended system of supply, grinding, and distribution of wheat and flour from various areas, including Punjab, has been restored, after which the supply of flour throughout Azad Kashmir has started returning to normal.
Top officials have given a clear message that there will be no compromise on discipline in a sensitive institution like the Food Department, and every attempt to take the state system hostage under the guise of protest will be given a strict and immediate response.
