**Punjab Arts Council Employees Urge Chief Minister to Reverse Senior Officers’ Transfers**
Employees at the Punjab Arts Council have submitted a joint appeal to the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Minister for Information and Culture, and the Secretary of Information and Culture, urging them to reverse the transfer orders of two senior officers, Mughees Bin Aziz and Maqbool Ahmed Rana. The staff argue that the recent transfers have heightened uncertainty within the department and risk damaging the institution’s integrity and morale.
In their letter, 27 staff members expressed serious concern over what they describe as an unstable environment created by undue external interference. According to the employees, favoritism, internal lobbying, and personal biases have compromised the administrative integrity of the Council, leading to decisions that have unsettled both junior and senior personnel alike.
The employees specifically criticized the transfer of Mr. Rana from his cadre post to a different one, calling it a violation of service rules and Supreme Court principles. They further alleged that a group of recently regularized officers exploited false documentation and misinformation to sway administrative decisions in their favor, undermining the council’s organizational balance.
Championing the professionalism and leadership of both Mughees Bin Aziz and Maqbool Ahmed Rana, the staff asserted that their contributions are well recognized across the Council’s headquarters and regional offices. They warned that unjustly removing such officers would set a negative precedent and discourage a culture of honest service within the department.
The petitioners also highlighted the loss of reliable channels for airing legitimate concerns due to the ongoing administrative upheaval, leaving staff feeling powerless and exposed. They called for immediate intervention to restore both officers to their original posts, emphasizing that such action is critical for institutional stability, staff welfare, and the preservation of professional standards at the Punjab Arts Council.
